PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 16
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED FEBRUARY 11, 2000)
                        GENERAL SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
     $172,500,000 of 5 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2006 and
  11,093,248 Shares of Common Stock Issuable upon Conversion of the Notes

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     This prospectus supplement no. 16 supplements and amends the
prospectus dated February 11, 2000, as amended by prospectus supplement no.
1 dated February 22, 2000, prospectus supplement no. 2 dated March 1, 2000,
prospectus supplement no. 3 dated March 21, 2000, prospectus supplement no.
4 dated April 3, 2000, prospectus supplement no. 5 dated April 14, 2000,
prospectus supplement no. 6 dated April 28, 2000, prospectus supplement no.
7 dated July 12, 2000, prospectus supplement no. 8 dated September 18,
2000, prospectus supplement no. 9 dated October 6, 2000, prospectus
supplement no. 10 dated November 3, 2000, prospectus supplement no. 11
dated December 8, 2000, prospectus supplement no. 12 dated January 26,
2001, prospectus supplement no.13 dated February 16, 2001, prospectus
supplement no. 14 dated June 22, 2001 and prospectus supplement no. 15
dated August 10, 2001 relating to the 5 3/4 % Convertible Subordinated
Notes due December 15, 2006 of General Semiconductor, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, held by certain securityholders who may offer for sale the
notes and the shares of our common stock into which the notes are
convertible at any time at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or
at privately negotiated prices. The selling securityholders may sell the
notes or the common stock directly to purchasers or through underwriters,
broker-dealers or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of
discounts, concessions or commissions.

                     ADDITIONAL SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

         The following represents an addendum to the table of selling
securityholders appearing on pages 55-57 of the prospectus, as supplemented
and amended:

                                                        COMMON
                                                        STOCK            COMMON
                                     PRINCIPAL         ISSUABLE          STOCK
                                     AMOUNT OF           UPON            OWNED
                                       NOTES          CONVERSION         AFTER
                                    BENEFICIALLY       OF THE         COMPLETION
                                     OWNED AND        NOTES AND         OF THE
         NAME                     OFFERED HEREBY    OFFERED HEREBY     OFFERING
         ----                     --------------    --------------    ----------

Deutsche Banc Alex Brown Inc.        $750,000           48,231             -
Zurich Institutional Benchmarks        60,000            3,858             -
Master Fund Ltd.
In addition, the prospectus, as supplemented and amended, is hereby further
amended as follows:
The deletion of:

San Diego County Employee          $1,200,000           77,170             -
Retirement Association
and substitution therefor of:

San Diego County Employee          $2,700,000          173,633             -
Retirement Association

     The prospectus, together with prospectus supplements no. 1-16,
constitutes the prospectus required to be delivered by Section 5(b) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to offers and sales of the
notes and the common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes. All
references in the prospectus to "this prospectus" are hereby amended to
read "this prospectus (as supplemented and amended)."

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     NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE
SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR
PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION
TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

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         THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT IS OCTOBER 5, 2001.