Tech Diplomacy Now: China’s Export Controls Kick In
Export controls force the United States and other democracies into an unfamiliar set of circumstances
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Tech Diplomacy Updates
Top News of the Week
Latest News
Technology Strategy and Policy
Artificial Intelligence
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
Critical Minerals
Synthetic Biology
Quantum
Advanced Aerospace Technology
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
Energy and Climate
Opinion and Commentary
The Last Word
Insights in Tech Diplomacy: Undue Influence
The new “Insights in Tech Diplomacy" series from the Tech Diplomacy Academy brings together thought leaders from government, industry, and academia to discuss the geopolitical risks and opportunities posed by critical and emerging technologies. In the first episode of the series, Isaac Stone Fish, CEO and Founder of Strategy Risks, and Michelle Giuda, CEO of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue, discuss the impact of technology on business risks in the U.S. and China. They examine how artificial intelligence is transforming business practices in these regions and offer essential insights for business leaders on navigating the complexities of doing business with China, particularly in relation to the Chinese government.
Krach, Pelson: Huawei’s Revival Greatly Exaggerated
Huawei has been mounting a media campaign to trumpet its remarkable revival after the Clean Network dealt a big blow to its profits (and trust). However, our Chairman Keith Krach and Advisory Council member Jon Pelson write in The Hill that the numbers tell a different story.
Top News of the Week- China’s Export Controls Kick In
Over the past two years Beijing has developed and begun implementation of its own export control regime, blocking the export of technology and commodities that China has control over. The PRC directs these restrictions overwhelmingly at the United States and other democracies. This has forced the United States and other democracies into an unfamiliar set of circumstances.
Key Points:
In July 2023, Chinese officials announced restrictions on the export of eight gallium and six germanium products starting on August 1, 2023. This drove the cost of these commodities up and increased the cost of chip manufacturing outside of China.
In December 2023, the Chinese Government revised its regulations on the export of prohibited and restricted technologies, which increased the number of technologies that are prohibited from export.
These changes hit semiconductor production minerals, biotechnologies, drones and related technologies, and graphite materials.
In August 2024, the Chinese Government expanded the restrictions again to cover even more drones and aerospace components, as well as the metalloid Antimony which is used in a variety of products (solar cells, cosmetics, lead-acid batteries), but most importantly for various weapons like infrared missile seeker heads, night-vision goggles, hardening for armor, and nuclear weapons.
More Background:
China expands export controls on drones, parts with potential for military use – SCMP, August 19, 2024
What is antimony and why is China curbing its exports? – Reuters, August 16, 2024
China Tightens Grip on Strategic Minerals with New Antimony Export Controls – INN, August 16, 2024
China to restrict exports of some aviation and space components – CNN, May 31, 2024
Key Changes and Updates to Chinese Export Controls in 2023 – Mayer Brown LLP, February 1, 2024
China's tighter grip on technology export restrictions and licensing procedures – KPMG, January 2024
China’s gallium and germanium exports tumble as controls on shipments to the West take toll – SCMP, January 21, 2024
The world will pay a high price if China cuts off supplies of chipmaking materials – CNN, October 11, 2023
Latest News
China and Philippines trade accusations over South China Sea collision – FT, August 20, 2024
Elon Musk’s Twitter Takeover Is Now the Worst Buyout for Banks Since the Financial Crisis – WSJ, August 20, 2024
Israeli and Hamas Officials See Little Chance for Cease-Fire Breakthrough – NYTs, August 20, 2024
Cellphones, Laptops, AI: How Israel Gathers Intelligence on Hostages – WSJ, August 20, 2024
India's Modi to visit Ukraine on Aug. 23, weeks after rebuking Putin – Reuters, August 19, 2024
Too Much Steel in China Means Trouble for the World – Bloomberg, August 17, 2024
Technology Strategy and Policy
The Innovation Fallacy: In the U.S.-Chinese Tech Race, Diffusion Matters More Than Invention – Foreign Affairs, August 19, 2024
EU antitrust regime nears end of Margrethe Vestager era – FT, August 17, 2024
The Technocrat: Gina Raimondo has reshaped the Commerce Department for technological competition with China. – Foreign Policy, August 16, 2024
Tech war poll shows ‘China against the world’ while US in ‘commanding position’ – SCMP, August 16, 2024
PRC-UAE Collaboration and US Technology Transfer Concerns in Abu Dhabi – Jamestown Foundation, August 15, 2024
Hesai’s reported removal from Pentagon blacklist draws criticism from Republican senators – SCMP, August 15, 2024
Artificial Intelligence
OpenAI Says It Disrupted an Iranian Misinformation Campaign – NYTs, August 16, 2024
Seeds of Security: AI + Agriculture Imperatives – ChinaTalk, August 6, 2024
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
TikTok disputes US claims on China ties in court appeal – Reuters, August 16, 2024
Chinese cybersecurity firm backs Elon Musk's account on DDOS attack in Trump conversation, identifies operator – Pekingnology, August 14, 2024
Foreign TikTok Networks Are Pushing Political Lies to Americans – WSJ, August 8, 2024
How to Fund Universal Broadband Service Without the Universal Service Fund – ITIF, August 6, 2024
China launches first satellites of constellation to rival Starlink, newspaper reports – Reuters, August 5, 2024
Apple’s First India-Made iPhone Pro Models Coming This Year – Bloomberg, August 20, 2024
Critical Minerals
China’s ammo export curb is more a green defence – Reuters, August 19, 2024
Simandou: China’s Pilbara Killer Comes of Age – Geopolitical Monitor, August 16, 2024
China to restrict critical antimony exports as geopolitical tensions target weapons – SCMP, August 15, 2024
Securing America’s Critical Minerals: A Policy Priority Conundrum – The Diplomat, August 8, 2024
Synthetic Biology
The New Bioweapons: How Synthetic Biology Could Destabilize the World – Foreign Affairs, August 20, 2024
Redesigning Synthetic Biology with Automation – SynBioBeta, August 19, 2024
Building a Synthetic Biology Future in the Land Down Under – SynBioBeta, August 12, 2024
Biotech financing: darkest before the dawn – Nature, August 8, 2024
Artificial Intelligence Powering Synthetic Biology: The Fundamentals – S&P Global, June 2024
Quantum
Nvidia Accelerates Quantum Computing for Scientific Research – EE Times, August 20, 2024
German cubesat to test quantum key distribution – SpaceNews, August 19, 2024
Post-Quantum Cryptography PQC – NIST, August 13, 2024
US nears milestone in race to prevent quantum hacking – FT, August 6, 2024
Advanced Aerospace Technology
The Pentagon Is Planning a Drone ‘Hellscape’ to Defend Taiwan – Wired, August 19, 2024
Iran seeks China’s help with surveillance satellites, officials say – WaPo, August 16, 2024
Giant Chinese cargo drone lifts off on first test flight – SCMP, August 12, 2024
China launches satellites to rival SpaceX’s Starlink in boost for its space ambitions – CNN, August 9, 2024
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
How Innovative Is China in Semiconductors? – ITIF, August 19, 2024
Japan Government Tightens Grip on Chip Supply-Chain Network – Bloomberg, August 17, 2024
Top Chinese Chip Gear Maker Sues Pentagon to Void Sanctions – Bloomberg, August 16, 2024
Texas Instruments Wins $4.6 Billion in Chips Act Grants, Loans – Bloomberg, August 16, 2024
What Works in Taiwan Doesn’t Always in Arizona, a Chipmaking Giant Learns – NYTs, August 8, 2024
China chipmaker SMIC beats Q2 estimates despite steep profit fall – Reuters, August 8, 2024
Sugon spin-off helps China evade US chip bans – Asia Times, August 7, 2024
As Regulators Close In, Nvidia Scrambles for a Response – NYTs, August 6, 2024
SK Hynix Wins $950 Million of US Grants, Loans for AI Chip Site – Bloomberg, August 6, 2024
Chinese firms stockpile high-end Samsung chips as they await new US curbs, say sources – Reuters, August 6, 2024
Energy and Climate
China's coal output rises as share of electricity slips – Reuters, August 19, 2024
CATL markets itself directly to consumers in rivalry with BYD – Nikkei Asia, August 13, 2024
Outcompeted by China, Battery Makers Seek More U.S. Largesse – The Information, August 8, 2024
Opinion and Commentary
Magical math and Chinese subsidies don’t diminish Huawei’s threat – Keith Krach and Jon Pelson, The Hill, August 16, 2024
The China Hangover Is Here – Michael Beckley, NYT, August 19, 2024
Ukraine’s extraordinary incursion into Kursk has changed the narrative of the war – but is a high-risk strategy – Jack Watling, The Guardian, August 17, 2024
America’s One-War Military Is No Match for Reality – Mackenzie Eaglen, AEI, August 8, 2024
The U.S. Must Prepare to Fight China and North Korea at the Same Time – Markus Garlaukas and Matthew Kroenig, Foreign Policy, August 6, 2024
How China is using Silicon Valley – Jacob Dreyer, Unherd, July 4, 2024
Urgently Needed: A Europeanized NATO – Keith Kellogg and Dan Negrea, The National Interest, August 16, 2024
5 questions for Audrey Tang – Politico, August 16, 2024
The Last Word
“The idea of prebunking is to show people how a deepfake is done…So when they see something that looks like a polarization attack or a deepfake attack or election interference, instead of just jumping to “outrage, share, retweet,” they would say, ‘Oh, I’ve seen this before.’”
Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s first Digital Minister
New Tech Diplomacy Academy course featuring Audrey Tang: Deepfakes Decoded: Navigating Disinformation in the Digital Age
About: Tech Diplomacy Now
The Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue is the world’s preeminent trusted technology accelerator. As the leader of the new category of Tech Diplomacy, the Institute integrates technology expertise, Silicon Valley strategies, and foreign policy tools to build the Global Trusted Tech Network of governments, companies, organizations and individuals to accelerate the innovation and adoption of trusted technology and ensure technology advances freedom.