Tech Diplomacy Now: China Blocks Micron’s Memory Chips
The intersection of technology, foreign policy, and the news you need to know
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
The Last Word
Top News of the Week – China Blocks Micron’s Memory Chips
In a development that should come as no surprise, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) ruled that memory chips from Micron Technology pose a “major security risk.” This determination allows the CAC to direct operators of critical infrastructure in China to stop buying Micron’s chips. To maintain the greatest latitude and encourage self-censorship, Chinese regulators often obscure the precise legal basis of their actions as well as the exact restrictions and this time is no different. Reviews conducted by CAC are final and not subject to appeal.
Less than two months ago, CAC announced the initiation of this investigation which many interpreted as retaliation against the U.S. Commerce Department’s restrictions on China’s access to advanced semiconductors.
What remains to be seen is how Korea’s Samsung and SK Hynix will respond to this action against Micron. Will they fill the void or will this action by CAC reduce the volume of high-quality memory chips available to Chinese firms?
Background reading:
Behind the Facade of China’s Cyber Super-Regulator – DigiChina, August 8, 2022
De-Americanize’: How China Is Remaking Its Chip Business – NYTs, May 11, 2023
With Ban on Micron, China Escalates Microchip Clash With U.S. – NYTs, May 22, 2023
Beijing Bans Micron as Supplier to Big Chinese Firms, Citing National Security – WSJ, May 21, 2023
China imposes sales restrictions on Micron as it escalates tech battle with Washington – CNN, May 22, 2023
China's Micron ban creates chip dilemma for Samsung, SK Hynix – Nikkei Asia, May 22, 2023
Announcements
Purdue University President Mung Chiang on Sunday (May 21) at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, signed another landmark international agreement to advance Purdue’s efforts in semiconductors production. Purdue is partnering with Micron, Tokyo Electron and other educational institutions in the United States and Japan to establish the “UPWARDS Network” for workforce advancement and research and development in semiconductors.
The agreement was signed in the presence of, among others, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken; Keiko Nagaoka, Japan’s Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel. The signatories later had a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the end of the summit.
Read the full announcement HERE
Please join the Global Tech Security Commission (GTSC) – a joint partnership between the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub and Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue – and the GeoTech Center on June 5 at 11:30am ET for a virtual panel discussion on the ongoing competition between the US and China to drive AI technology and governance structures.
The AI tech race has evolved in recent years as Washington has launched collaborative initiatives among government, military, and tech-industry actors and sought to advance legislation to maintain a competitive edge against Beijing. For now, US tech firms still maintain a strong lead in AI development and investment relative to Chinese companies but this gap is beginning to close. China is already ahead of the United States in AI adoption, and it has a large and growing community of high-quality AI experts.
Latest News
G7 Hiroshima Leaders’ Communiqué – May 20, 2023
China seeks to cement ties with Central Asia as G7 discusses plans to counter Beijing’s ‘economic coercion’ – SCMP, May 18, 2023
Russia and China hit back at a G7 that saw them as a threat – CNN, May 22, 2023
China and Russia lash out at G7 'double containment' attempt – Japan Times, May 21, 2023
Technology Strategy and Policy
Offset X: Closing the Deterrence Gap and Building the Future Joint Force – SCSP, May 2023
Energizing Innovation in Fiscal Year 2024 – ITIF, May 22, 2023
How ‘Decoupling’ From China Became ‘De-risking’ – NYTs, May 20, 2023
How the EU can shape the new era of strategic export restrictions – European Council on Foreign Relations, May 17, 2023
How to “Friendshore” – AEI, May 16, 2023
Artificial Intelligence
Governance of superintelligence – OpenAI, May 22, 2023
OpenAI leaders propose international regulatory body for AI – TechCrunch, May 22, 2023
G7 aims to beef up collaboration for AI governance – Japan Times, May 21, 2023
Our quick guide to the 6 ways we can regulate AI – MIT Technology Review, May 22, 2023
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
5G Networks Are Performing Worse. What’s Going On? – IEEE Spectrum, May 6, 2023
Despite risks, EU continues to fund research with Chinese military-linked universities – Science Business, May 16, 2023
5G networks enable automated control of train traffic – Nature, May 2, 2023
FCC denies Dish Network 5G plan over Starlink interference concerns – SpaceNews, May 19, 2023
Critical Minerals
Australia wins U.S. support for critical minerals industry – Reuters, May 22, 2023
South Korea, Canada agree to step up cooperation on critical minerals, security – Reuters, May 17, 2023
Friendshoring Critical Minerals: What Could the U.S. and Its Partners Produce? – Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, May 3, 2023
The U.S. Needs Minerals for Electric Cars. Everyone Else Wants Them Too. – NYTs, May 21, 2023
The United States is entering an array of agreements to secure the critical minerals necessary for the energy transition, but it’s not clear which of the arrangements can succeed.
Synthetic Biology
Israel's Reichman U. launches molecular biology, engineering institute – Jerusalem Post, May 22, 2023
The New Industrial Revolution: Bio x AI – Andreesen Horowitz, May 17, 2023
Quantum
IBM Launches $100 Million Partnership with Global Universities to Develop Novel Technologies Towards a 100,000-Qubit Quantum-Centric Supercomputer – IBM, May 21, 2023
IBM, Google Give $150 Million for U.S.-Japan Quantum-Computing Push as China Looms – WSJ, May 17, 2023
Advanced Aerospace Technology
Chinese-made military drones have hidden tech to stop them being used to attack China, source claims – SCMP, May 17, 2023
China Seeks to Counter Musk’s Starlink with Own Satellite Network – WSJ, May 21, 2023
China is ramping up efforts to develop a satellite-powered internet network that can compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink, which has quickly expanded around the world and whose military applications have been on display in Ukraine’s defense against Russia.
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
Semiconductors and the CHIPS Act: The Global Context – Congressional Research Service, May 18, 2023
New £1 billion strategy for UK's semiconductor sector – UK Government, May 19, 2023
Micron to invest $3.6B in Japan for next-gen memory chips – TechCrunch, May 18, 2023
America’s Semiconductor Boom Faces a Challenge: Not Enough Workers – NYTs, May 19, 2023
Strengthened by billions of federal dollars, semiconductor companies plan to create thousands of jobs. But officials say there might not be enough people to fill them.
Energy and Climate
Embrace of LNG by G7 a setback for climate goals, experts warn – Japan Times, May 21, 2023
The State of Clean Technology Manufacturing – IEA, May 2023
Venture capital investment in clean energy startups soars – Reuters, May 19, 2023
Why some companies want you to rent the battery in your EV – MIT Technology Review, May 18, 2023
Opinion and Commentary
Artificial intelligence holds huge promise – and peril. Let’s choose the right path – The Guardian, May 20, 2023
In Xi’an, China’s Xi Calls for a ‘Shared Future’ With Central Asia – The Diplomat, May 19, 2023
AI’s Education Revolution – WSJ, May 21, 2023
AI will take some jobs, but mass unemployment isn’t inevitable – The Guardian, May 22, 2023
The Last Word
"The mission to ensure that technology advances freedom is a long-term endeavor. Our adversaries are playing the long-game, and the work to build and empower the next generation of Tech Diplomacy leaders must begin now." - Michelle Giuda
About: Tech Diplomacy Now
The nonpartisan Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue is focused on securing freedom by accelerating the innovation and adoption of trusted technology.
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.