Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said a few days ago that it will provide subsidies of up to 476 billion yen (about 3.5 billion U.S. dollars) for the semiconductor factories built by TSMC, Sony Group and Denso in Kumamoto, Japan.

According to Taiwan media "Central News Agency" reported that Lu Xingzhi, a semiconductor industry analyst, pointed out that it is necessary to clarify whether it is a free subsidy or a Japanese government fund investment. If the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan gives free subsidies and accounts for 43% of the total investment quota, it will contribute about 22 to 26 percentage points to the gross profit margin of Kumamoto Factory, which should offset the high labor and construction costs. If it were not for the free subsidy, the Japanese government would hold 43% or less of the shares of Kumamoto Factory. In addition to the investment from Sony Group and Denso, TSMC's shareholding would not be half. In essence, TSMC helped the Japanese government to work and transfer technology.

In this regard, TSMC responded that the Japanese government is not a shareholder, Sony Group and Denso hold a minority stake in JASM, and JASM is a wafer manufacturing subsidiary in which TSMC has a majority stake.