In February 2026, in East Asia’s high-tech sector, efforts to diversify supply chains have come to the fore, alongside the development of local production networks and partial technological autonomy. Projects and partnerships are being implemented in the areas of local production and refining of rare earth metals, as well as in the research and manufacturing of advanced materials, components, and systems. Examples include the activities of Taiwanese TSMC in Japan and talks between South Korea and India on the high-tech sector. At the same time, Asian tech giants are competing with one another to maintain or gain a position among the global leaders in specific advanced technologies. The monitor with information from February with commentary can be downloaded here.

The year 2026 began with several key developments in the high-tech sector in East Asia. China, responding to the Japanese prime minister’s speech in November, introduced tighter export controls, which accelerated Japan’s efforts to diversify supplies of critical raw materials. South Korea enacted the world’s first basic law on artificial intelligence, while Taiwan, the leader in the semiconductor industry, has been consistently leveraging its position to maintain its independence. However, all of these countries are struggling with a shortage of highly skilled workers in AI-related sectors. The January monitor with commentary can be downloaded here.