Contested Governance: The Geopolitical Transformation of Semiconductor Industry Regulation in Asia

Through an analysis of semiconductor industry regulations in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, and Singapore, this paper demonstrates how traditional market-oriented regulatory approaches have been supplanted by complex geopolitical issues with significant consequences. It reveals that semiconductor regulation in these countries increasingly operates at the intersection of multiple policy domains—industrial development, national security, environmental protection, and international relations—necessitating sophisticated coordination mechanisms to address inherent conflicts and trade- offs. Drawing on theoretical frameworks including polycentric governance, reflexive law, global production network analysis, and strategic trade theory, it provides an interdisciplinary perspective on this evolving regulatory landscape, highlighting four key challenges: balancing security with innovation, mitigating supply chain risks, addressing fragmentation versus harmonization of standards, and tackling sustainability concerns. It concludes by proposing regulatory approaches that can maintain the advantages of global semiconductor integration while addressing legitimate security issues, supply chain vulnerabilities, and environmental challenges.