China's top chipmaker just lost a quarter of its board overnight

SMIC, China's leading chipmaker, is going through another massive leadership shake-up.

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) announced a wave of resignations in stock exchange filings Thursday evening. As many as four directors stepped down effective immediately, including Vice Chairman Chiang Shang-yi, who had joined the company just barely a year ago from Taiwanese chipmaking giant TSMC.

The news further clouds the outlook for SMIC, which has been trying to move forward after being blacklisted by the United States last year. The company's former chairman, Zhou Zixue, also stepped down in September for personal health reasons.