Japan urges Toshiba, Western Digital to get along as chip spat flares

Tokyo

JAPAN'S government said on Tuesday it wanted Toshiba Corp and partner Western Digital Corp to cooperate, expressing concern about an escalating dispute between the two that threatens to upend the sale of Toshiba's chip unit.

Western Digital sought international arbitration this week to stop Toshiba from selling the unit without its consent, arguing that the Japanese conglomerate has violated contracts relating to their joint venture that operates Toshiba's main semiconductor plant.