Three Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. employees were taken into custody Tuesday after company officials detected "unauthorized activities" and a leak of its trade secrets related to "core technologies.

Taiwan prosecutors arrested six people suspected of stealing trade secrets from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., opening an investigation into a potential breach of national security involving a global tech industry linchpin.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company said Tuesday it had discovered “unauthorized activities” of employees suspecting of stealing trade secrets related to its advanced computer chips.