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INCOME TAXES (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009 | Dec. 31, 2008
Income Tax [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Enterprise income tax rate | 25.00% |  |  |  |
Foreign enterprise income tax rate | 25.00% |  |  |  |
Dividend withholding tax rate | 5.00% |  |  |  |
Dividend withholding tax expense | 3,189 | 2,840 |  |  |
Valuation allowance | 3,535 | 1,912 | 1,002 |  |
Tax savings from exemption and preferential tax status | 911 | 1,081 | 473 |  |
Effect of tax savings on earnings per share | 0.002 | (0.002) | (0.001) |  |
Tax loss carryforward expiring 2013 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforwards | 197 |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforward expiration year | 2013 |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforward expiring 2014 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforwards | 1,453 |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforward expiration year | 2014 |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforward expiring 2015 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforwards | 2,409 |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforward expiration year | 2015 |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforward expiring 2016 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforwards | 3,101 |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforward expiration year | 2016 |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforward expiring 2017 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforwards | 7,562 |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforward expiration year | 2017 |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforward, indefinite life [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforwards | 1,793 |  |  |  |
High New Tech Enterprise [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Enterprise income tax rate | 15.00% |  |  |  |
Foreign enterprise income tax rate | 15.00% |  |  |  |
Current Preferential Tax Rate [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Enterprise income tax rate | 25.00% | 24.00% | 22.00% | 18.00% | 18.00%
Foreign enterprise income tax rate | 25.00% | 24.00% | 22.00% | 18.00% | 18.00%
Actions Semiconductor Co., Ltd. ("Actions Semiconductor Zhuhai") [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforwards | 4,418 |  |  |  |
Actions Semiconductor Co., Ltd. ("Actions Semiconductor Zhuhai") [Member] | High New Tech Enterprise [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Enterprise income tax rate | 15.00% | 15.00% |  |  |
Artek Microelectronics Co., Ltd. ("Artek Microelectronics Shenzhen") [Member] | High New Tech Enterprise [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Foreign enterprise income tax rate | 15.00% |  |  |  |
Artek Microelectronics Co., Ltd. ("Artek Microelectronics Shenzhen") [Member] | Current Preferential Tax Rate [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Foreign enterprise income tax rate |  | 12.00% | 11.00% | 10.00% |
Income tax rate reduction, percentage |  | 50.00% | 50.00% | 50.00% |
Actions Technology (HK) Company Limited ("Actions Hong Kong") [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Hong Kong profits tax rate | 16.50% | 16.50% | 16.50% |  |
Tax loss carryforwards | 1,793 |  |  |  |
Artek Microelectronics (HK) Co., Limited [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Hong Kong profits tax rate | 16.50% | 16.50% | 16.50% |  |
Shanghai Actions Semiconductor Co., Ltd. ("Actions Semiconductor Shanghai ") [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Tax loss carryforwards | 10,304 |  |  |  |

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