## Taiwan Earthquake Highlights Chipmakers' Resilience and Huawei's Ambitions
Cheng Ting-Fang, your #techAsia host, reports from Taipei on the recent earthquake in Taiwan and its impact on the tech industry.
The earthquake, the largest since 1999, prompted immediate action from chipmakers like TSMC and UMC. Despite some damage, employees were back at work within 20 minutes, highlighting the intense work ethic that has made Taiwan a global leader in chip production.
Meanwhile, Huawei, facing a U.S. crackdown, is reportedly pushing its employees to work even longer hours, with some managers joking about a "007" work culture (midnight to midnight, seven days a week). The company is also offering highly competitive salaries and building a massive semiconductor equipment R&D center in Shanghai to bolster its chip supply chain.
## TikTok Workers Face Tax Headaches on Unsellable Shares
Thousands of U.S. TikTok workers and former workers are facing hefty tax liabilities on shares they were awarded as part of their pay packages. The issue stems from restricted stock units (RSUs) that vest over time, triggering tax obligations even though the shares cannot be sold. Some employees are exploring legal options and reporting the situation to authorities.
## U.S. Grants Billions to TSMC for Chip Production
The Biden administration has confirmed it will offer Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) $6.6 billion in grants under the CHIPS Act. TSMC, a key supplier of chips for companies like Nvidia, Apple, and AMD, will also start making the world's most advanced 2-nanometer chips on American soil around 2028.
## Samsung Workers Threaten Strike Over Working Conditions
Workers at Samsung Electronics, the world's biggest smartphone and memory chipmaker, have voted to strike over working conditions. This would be the first-ever strike against the company in South Korea. The unions are demanding higher pay, additional paid days off, and heftier bonuses.
## Other Tech News from Asia
Japan outspends the U.S. and Germany on chip subsidies as a share of GDP.
Lei Jun, the "Steve Jobs of China," takes on a new role as car salesman in Xiaomi's EV evolution.
Samsung signals the end of the chip downturn with a forecast 10-fold jump in profit.
South Korea stocks see record foreign buying on appetite for chips.
Chinese robot maker says protectionism will not stop its march.
Japan Inc. races to join the U.S., U.K., and China in the nuclear fusion race.
For more tech news from Asia, subscribe to the #techAsia newsletter.