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Monday 5 January 2026
Black Sesame's Huashan A2000 clears US Commerce, Defense reviews, secures global sales approval
Black Sesame Technologies has secured a rare regulatory breakthrough for a China-based automotive AI chip developer. On January 4, 2025, the company said its high-performance Huashan A2000 intelligent driving SoC had cleared reviews by the US Department of Commerce and the US Department of Defense, allowing global sales and deployment. The decision effectively moves the A2000 into large-scale commercialization, an outcome few peers have achieved under current regulatory conditions
Monday 5 January 2026
TSMC kicks off 2nm production with Samsung in hot pursuit
The global foundry race has entered a new phase after TSMC announced it has begun volume production of its 2nm process, intensifying competitive pressure on Samsung Electronics as the two chipmakers vie for leadership at the industry's most advanced manufacturing node. The move is closely watched across the semiconductor sector because 2nm technology is expected to underpin the next generation of AI, mobile, and high-performance computing chips, shaping pricing power, customer relationships, and supply-chain diversification
Monday 5 January 2026
Samsung bets on smart driving, testing old alliances

Samsung Electronics' decision to acquire a major advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) business through its subsidiary Harman is widely viewed as a decisive escalation of its ambitions in automotive electronics. Yet the move is also stirring unease among industry observers, who warn that it could complicate Samsung's long-standing partnership with Hyundai Motor Group, raising questions about how the two South Korean giants will navigate an increasingly crowded and competitive automotive technology market

Monday 5 January 2026
Lee Jae-myung's first China visit signals warming South Korea-China ties
According to Bloomberg and The Korea Economic Daily, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung made a four-day trip from January 4-7, 2026, to Beijing and Shanghai, including a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The heads of the four major South Korean conglomerates (Samsung, SK Group, Hyundai, and LG Group) also traveled with Lee as part of an economic delegation
Monday 5 January 2026
Japan's Rapidus to launch advanced packaging pilot line in Hokkaido by spring 2026
Japanese chipmaker Rapidus is advancing its 2nm process technology while developing advanced packaging solutions tailored for AI chips. The company aims to officially start trial production on its advanced packaging line in April 2026
Monday 5 January 2026
China pulls ahead of the US in humanoid robot commercialization
Once confined to research labs, humanoid robots moved decisively into public view across China in 2025. Viral footage showed robots dancing at the Spring Festival gala, operating on factory floors, running marathons, and even sparring in boxing matches.​
Monday 5 January 2026
China memory makers' IPO line up: CXMT seeks US$4.2 billion, YMTC prepares filing
Strong AI demand has pushed the memory sector into a rare upcycle. China's leading DRAM maker CXMT is advancing an IPO application on the STAR Market, targeting CNY29.5 billion (US$4.21 billion), the second-largest fundraising in STAR Market history. In parallel, supply chain sources say China's NAND flash leader YMTC is likely to file for an IPO in the first half of 2026
Monday 5 January 2026
Kawasaki banned by Japanese defense ministry over submarine engine fraud, raising export trust concerns
Japan's Ministry of Defense announced in December 2025 that it had suspended Kawasaki Heavy Industries from bidding on defense contracts until March 11, 2026, a 2.5-month ban following revelations of falsified fuel efficiency data for submarine engines supplied to the Maritime Self-Defense Force
Monday 5 January 2026
Samsung reportedly pitches bundled solutions to Google and AMD
As major corporations expand investments in artificial intelligence (AI), memory suppliers have seen a flood of orders. According to the latest reports from South Korean media, Samsung Electronics has not only demonstrated negotiation dominance but is also marketing a turnkey solution that bundles advanced packaging, DRAM, and foundry services to customers such as Google and AMD. This binding strategy aims to strengthen customer loyalty
Monday 5 January 2026
Nexchip Semiconductor launches US$5.1bn Hefei fab to scale 28nm mature-node capacity

China's domestic foundry expansion gained momentum this week as Nexchip Semiconductor broke ground on its Phase IV project in Hefei, committing CNY35.5 billion (approx. US$5.07 billion) to expand 12-inch wafer capacity and deepen its position in mature-node manufacturing

Monday 5 January 2026
iPhone 17 sales surge lifts Apple past 20% share in China

Apple's iPhone 17 series has driven a notable recovery in China, pushing the company's market share back above 20% and lifting monthly shipments beyond 6 million units in November 2025, according to industry estimates. The rebound marks Apple's strongest performance in the market in recent years after a period of declining share amid intense competition from domestic smartphone brands

Monday 5 January 2026
Weekly news roundup: TSMC widens 2 nm edge as South Korea boosts chip spending; Huawei eyes memory bottlenecks
These are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories in the week of Dec 29 - Jan 4
Monday 5 January 2026
SK Telecom unveils South Korea's first 500-billion-parameter AI model A.X K1
South Korea's leading telecom operator SK Telecom (SKT) has introduced A.X K1, a 500-billion-parameter AI model developed under a national AI initiative to establish a foundational platform for the country, highlighting SKT's efforts to align AI technology with national strategy and industrial applications
Monday 5 January 2026
SK On slows investment and delays Seosan factory expansion with EV market uncertainty
SK On, a battery unit of SK Innovation, has scaled back its investment plans and postponed the expansion of its new factory in Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea, due to a slowdown in the electric vehicle (EV) market and uncertain battery demand. Initially planning to invest KRW17.534 trillion (approx. US$12.15 billion) to develop a third plant and upgrade the second plant, SK On has cut the committed investment to KRW936.3 billion so far, with around KRW820 billion to be spent later as part of the revised expansion schedule
Monday 5 January 2026
Trump orders divestment of EMCORE chip assets, tightening US scrutiny of foreign semiconductor deals
US President Donald Trump has ordered the divestment of certain semiconductor assets of EMCORE Corporation following a national security review that identified risks linked to foreign ownership, according to a White House executive order and a statement from the US Treasury Department