Tech Diplomacy Now: As the ‘Chip War’ expands, the U.S. seeks help from Seoul
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Top News of the Week
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Critical Minerals
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Quantum
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Semiconductors and Microelectronics
Energy and Climate
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The Last Word
Top News of the Week – As the ‘Chip War’ expands, the U.S. seeks help from Seoul
In late March, the Cyberspace Administration of China launched an investigation into Micron Technologies’ memory chips sold in the PRC. Many interpreted the move as Beijing’s retaliation against the advanced semiconductor restrictions put in place by Washington and supported by the Netherlands and Japan.
As South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives in Washington this week for a state visit, tech diplomats on both sides will be negotiating to see if Seoul will prevent its two memory chip manufacturers (Samsung and SK Hynix) from filling the gap in China sales if Beijing bans Micron’s chips from being sold.
If Seoul signals that its companies will not backfill, then Beijing might be deterred from announcing the ban in the first place.
Background reading:
China Launches Cybersecurity Review Against Micron – Wilmer Hale, April 11, 2023
US urges South Korea not to fill China shortfalls if Beijing bans Micron chips – Financial Times, April 24, 2024
Micron case causing concern for US companies in China, business chamber says – Reuters, April 26, 2023
Announcements
From our Director, Michelle Giuda, on LinkedIn
I come from a proud Navy family so it was an honor to participate in the Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference earlier this month at the United States Naval Academy.
The theme was "Democracies Divided: The Proliferation of Polarization." My message to the students: The big polarization our generation needs to overcome is the one between authoritarianism and freedom - and securing technology is critical to winning that contest.
Turns out our panel was pretty bullish on the future for democracy. It's hard not to be when you see the incredible Midshipmen who put together this important conference. #TechDiplomacy
Latest News
A Plan to Ban TikTok in Montana Is a Preview for the Rest of the Country - New York Times, April 12, 2023
“TikTok is programed to be weaponized. It tracks users keystrokes to capture personal data, passwords, and things like credit card information and location. In fact, the Chinese Communist Party has used TikTok to track reporters and attempts to intimidate them.” - Statement of Keith Krach, Chairman, Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue before the Montana House Judiciary Committee, March 28, 2023
A proposal for a TikTok ban was originally part of the 2020 Clean Store line of effort as part of the Clean Network initiative to secure high tech from authoritarian threats.
China's planned changes to espionage law alarm foreign business – Nikkei Asia, April 25, 2023
Commission launches European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency – European Commission, April 17, 2023
Six priorities for “de-risking” EU relations with China – MERICS, April 21, 2023
Technology Strategy and Policy
How business-friendly Hong Kong became a hub of Russian chip trade – Nikkei Asia, April 21, 2023
Chip war adds to growing tensions between China and the west – Financial Times, April 24, 2023
Rare Earth Reshore: Can the European Union overcome its deep reliance on China’s critical minerals supply chain? – The Wire China, April 23, 2023
Troubled Waters: The Geopolitics of Deep-Sea Mining – Geopolitical Monitor, April 18, 2023
Artificial Intelligence
Insider Q&A: OpenAI CTO Mira Murati on shepherding ChatGPT – AP, April 23, 2023
Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear Operations – CNA, April 17, 2023
China Says Chatbots Must Toe the Party Line – New York Times, April 24, 2023
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
5G sparks wave of mergers by Southeast Asian telecoms – Nikkei Asia, April 19, 2023
A Satellite Phone That Works Anywhere? The U.S.-China Rivalry Makes That Harder. – WSJ, April 24, 2023
White House begins early planning for 6G development – CNN, April 21, 2023
The White House plans to meet on Friday with government officials, business leaders and members of the academic community to discuss strategies for building out next-generation 6G wireless technology and lessons learned from the rollout of 5G.
Critical Minerals
Japan to subsidize half of costs for lithium and key mineral projects – Nikkei Asia, April 23, 2023
Canada minister says Teck should stay in Canada amid Glencore bid – Reuters, April 24, 2023
Argentina's lithium pipeline promises 'white gold' boom as Chile tightens control – Reuters, April 24, 2023
Chile is nationalizing new lithium production, vowing "no more mining for the few" – Quartz, April 21, 2023
Synthetic Biology
Science & Tech Spotlight: Synthetic Biology – Government Accountability Office, April 17, 2023
A new European-funded project to revolutionize bioprinting of living materials – AAAS, April 19, 2023
Quantum
New foundry to accelerate quantum information research at Argonne National Laboratory – Argonne National Laboratory, April 20, 2023
Joint Statement of the United States of America and Republic of Korea on Cooperation in Quantum Information Science and Technologies - US Department of State, April 26m 2023
Companies push for quantum plan – Axios, April 24, 2023
Tech companies looking to harness quantum computing say they need a streamlined, national strategy as a plethora of government agencies weigh in.
Schrödinger cat states of a 16-microgram mechanical oscillator – Science, April 20, 2023
Researchers at ETH Zurich have created the heaviest ‘Schrödinger cat’ to date, which could result in more robust quantum bits.
Advanced Aerospace Technology
Rocket evolution from the Saturn V to Starship – Quartz, April 21, 2023
China’s Space Dream Is a Legal Nightmare – Foreign Policy, April 21, 2023
In January, Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group, a Chinese company, signed an agreement with the government of Djibouti to build a rocket launch facility in Obock, a small port town in the country’s north.
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
U.S. urges Seoul not to fill China gaps if Beijing bans Micron chips – Nikkei Asia, April 24, 2023
Can Intel become the chip champion the US needs? – Financial Times, April 14, 2023
TSMC Seeks Up to $15 Billion From U.S. for Chip Plants but Objects to Conditions – WSJ, April 19, 2023
Chipmaking tool firms expect boom in China sales despite export rules – Reuters, April 20, 2023
Energy and Climate
Climate-Tech to Watch: Green Ammonia – ITIF, April 17, 2023
Thailand, Indonesia emerge as bigger links in EV supply chain – Nikkei Asia, April 18, 2023
The US is laying new power lines too slowly for its renewables transition – Quartz, April 13, 2023
Canada Lands Volkswagen Battery Plant with Billions in Subsidies – NYTs, April 21, 2023
Opinion and Commentary
The US- European tech partnership should be renewed and deepened – Euractiv, April 20, 2023
G-7 is not paying enough heed to Japan's sensible stance on energy – Nikkei Asia, April 24, 2023
Companies Thought They Could Ignore Geopolitics. Not Anymore. – Foreign Policy, April 19, 2023
How Artificial Intelligence Can Aid Democracy – Slate, April 21, 2023
The authors argue for a public option in the development and availability of artificial intelligence.
The Last Word
About: Tech Diplomacy Now
Technology is the crossroads and main battlefield of the four-dimensional diplomatic, economic, cultural and military contest between freedom and authoritarianism.
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The nonpartisan Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue aims to secure freedom by accelerating the widespread adoption of trusted tech. The Institute is the preeminent global authority on Tech Diplomacy, integrating tech expertise, Silicon Valley strategies, and foreign policy tools to build the Global Tech Trust Network of governments, companies and individuals united around a set of shared trust principles and a common mission to ensure that technology advances freedom
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