Taipei, Sept. 19 -- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) on Thursday told CNA its investment plans in Taiwan are "unchanged" amid speculation that the chipmaker may have suspended construction work on its second IC assembly plant in Chiayi County and plans to move equipment arranged for the plant to the United States.

Citing Taiwanese media outlet Economic Daily News, Focus Taiwan reported that earlier on Thursday, TSMC had halted the construction of the second IC assembly plant in Chiayi County in southern Taiwan, which was scheduled to be completed in 2026 and begin mass production in 2028.

"When asked by CNA, TSMC did not directly address whether the plant had halted its construction work, but instead said its investment pla...