Tech Diplomacy Now: Balancing National Security with the Semiconductor Industry’s interests
This week there are dueling efforts in Washington to shape the landscape of U.S. semiconductor policy.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Top News of the Week
Announcements
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
Top News of the Week – Balancing National Security with the Semiconductor Industry’s Interests
This week there are dueling efforts in Washington to shape the landscape of U.S. semiconductor policy.
On one side, several U.S. semiconductor industry leaders descended on Washington to lobby for relaxing restrictions on chips, semiconductor manufacturing tools, and software to the PRC. Some industry leaders see the PRC as a market opportunity and believe that they can manage the risks of technology transfer and national security themselves. In essence, some companies see bipartisan U.S. Government efforts to restrict the PRC from accessing advanced semiconductors as harmful to their business models.
This dynamic could be seen from a press release issued on Monday by the semiconductor industry’s lobbying arm, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). SIA “urged” the Administration and Congress “to refrain from further restrictions” on their business with the People’s Republic of China, even as the PRC imposes bans on their fellow companies (Micron) and restrictions on critical semiconductor manufacturing materials (gallium and germanium).
On the other side, various national security and industry researchers have spent years examining the challenges involved with the PRC’s industrial policies and obsession with security and manufacturing localization. Those researchers have largely concluded that individual companies are ill-suited to manage their own risks, let alone address acute national security threats from a Chinese superpower. PRC pressure on these companies to lobby against chip restrictions is enormous.
More background:
The Treacherous Silicon Triangle – Larry Diamond, Jim Ellis, and Orville Schell, Foreign Affairs, July 17, 2023
Silicon Triangle: The United States, Taiwan, China, and Global Semiconductor Security – Hoover Institution and Asia Society, July 17, 2023
SIA Statement on Potential Additional Government Restrictions on Semiconductors – SIA, July 17, 2023
Chip companies, top US officials discuss China policy – Reuters, July 17, 2023
Chip Leaders Head to Washington to Lobby for China Rules Relief – Bloomberg, July 14, 2023
U.S. Considers New Curbs on AI Chip Exports to China – WSJ, June 27, 2023
Chinese Firms Are Evading Chip Controls – Foreign Policy, June 21, 2023
Announcements
Lefteri H. Tsoukalas, Senior Research Fellow at the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue and a Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Purdue University drafted an op-ed at RealClear Energy about advancing digital nuclear technology and how the U.S. and our allies can safeguard a more secure future for all.
Read the full column here: Protecting Civilian Infrastructure From Becoming Instruments of Terror
Ambassador J. Peter Pham, a Senior Advisor at the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy, offers a three-pronged approach on how America can break free from China's dominance on vital supply chains.
Read the full column here: How America Can Escape China’s Rare Earth Pincer
On Friday, July 28th, the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy will be hosting a webinar on the critical intersections of international collaboration, space policy, and industry-government relations. Featuring insights from distinguished experts, the webinar aims to elucidate the latest advancements in space diplomacy, providing an opportunity for a comprehensive understanding of the contemporary dynamics shaping the exploration of the space frontier.
Panelists include:
Dan Dumbacher, Executive Director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Dan Goldin, Longest-Serving Former NASA Administrator ('92 to '01), and Commissioner for Space Technologies and Systems, Global Tech Security Council
Kathleen Howell, Hsu Lo Distinguished Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics in the College of Engineering at Purdue University
Register HERE to attend this webinar
Latest News
Israel Quietly Puts AI Systems at Center of Military Operations - Bloomberg Law, July 15, 2023
Multinationals in China accelerate push to decouple data – FT, July 15, 2023
In Asia data flows are part of a new great game – The Economist, July 10, 2023
U.S. Government Emails Hacked in Suspected Chinese Espionage Campaign – WSJ, July 12, 2023
Microsoft takes pains to obscure role in 0-days that caused email breach – ArsTechnica, July 14, 2023
Xi Jinping calls for 'solid' security barrier around China's internet – Reuters, July 15, 2023
Technology Strategy and Policy
Assessing the Strengths and Limitations of China’s Technology Transfer Policies – SCCEI, July 1, 2023
Chinese IC equipment maker AMEC wins lawsuit against Lam Research – DigiTimes Asia, July 13, 2023
House Committee Targets U.C. Berkeley Program for China Ties – NYTs, July 17, 2023
Germany will adopt China strategy to reduce reliance on Beijing – Politico, July 12, 2023
The AUKUS Trade Authorization Mechanism (ATAM): Ensuring swift and secure defense trade under AUKUS – U.S. Department of State, July 10, 2023
Artificial Intelligence
Musk Believes China Is on ‘Team Humanity’ When It Comes to AI – Bloomberg, July 13, 2023
Why Chinese entities are turning to People’s Daily censorship AI to avoid political mines – SCMP, July 17, 2023
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
Telecom Troubles: Adapting Networks to Defend Europe – CEPA, June 20, 2023
China's Huawei poised to overcome US ban with return of 5G phones, research firms say – Reuters, July 12, 2023
Huawei to Use China Fab's 7nm Node to Overcome U.S. Sanctions: Report – Tom’s Hardware, July 12, 2023
5G goes members-only – Axios, July 13, 2023
Critical Minerals
How America Can Escape China’s Rare Earth Pincer – J. Peter Pham, National Interest, July 16, 2023
EU asks metals producers to explore making chip inputs after China export curbs – FT, July 14, 2023
Critical Minerals Market Review 2023 – IEA, July 2023
Deep-sea mining tussle pits France and Germany against China – FT, July 9, 2023
Synthetic Biology
Causaly, an AI platform for drug discovery and biomedical research, raises $60M – TechCrunch, July 13, 2023
A Protein Printer: How to make a machine that turns bits into molecules. – Codon, July 11, 2023
A ‘Biological Camera’ to Capture the Full Potential of DNA Data Storage – SynBioBeta, July 11, 2023
The Unexpected Evolution of Minimalist Synthetic Microbes – SynBioBeta, July 6, 2023
Quantum
How to introduce quantum computers without slowing economic growth – Nature, July 17, 2023
Quantum Computing Qubit Entanglement Record Broken at 51 – Tom’s Hardware, July 16, 2023
Unleashing The Power Of Quantum Computing: The Imperative For Application Research – Forbes, July 17, 2023
Advanced Aerospace Technology
China beats SpaceX with world’s first methane-powered rocket launch – SCMP, July 12, 2023
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
Big Automakers Grab $1 Billion Deal for Urgently Needed Battery Metals – WSJ, July, 12, 2023
Higher investment in critical minerals boosts chances of meeting climate targets – FT, July 11, 2023
Energy and Climate
Big Automakers Grab $1 Billion Deal for Urgently Needed Battery Metals – WSJ, July, 12, 2023
Higher investment in critical minerals boosts chances of meeting climate targets – FT, July 11, 2023
Opinion and Commentary
China’s Export Ban on Semiconductor Inputs – Arman Sidhu, Geopolitical Monitor, July 7, 2023
Ukraine’s Not the Only State Signing Up for the American Empire – Bloomberg, July 10, 2023
About: Tech Diplomacy Now
The Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue is the world’s preeminent trusted technology accelerator. As the leader of a 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.