TSMC said personnel safety is its top priority and that its Kumamoto plant carried out a rapid precautionary evacuation.

At a State Council Information Office briefing, the Ministry of Commerce set out China’s stance on so-called "overcapacity", urging a comprehensive, objective and fair assessment and warning that using capacity concerns as a pretext for protectionism would disrupt global trade and supply chains, aggravate tensions and pose long-term risks to global growth. MOFCOM said it has prepared a position paper to clarify the facts and explain China’s views on the issue.

South Korea's KOSPI plunged 9% intraday to 6,143.85, with SK Hynix down more than 12% and Samsung Electronics down over 10%.