Xin Lang Cai Jing·2025-06-12 10:24Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China regarding the semiconductor industry, highlighting the U.S. accusations against Chinese chip manufacturers and the implications of export controls on both countries' tech sectors [1][3][5]. Group 1: U.S. Accusations and Export Controls - U.S. Commerce Secretary Raimondo criticized Chinese chip companies, claiming they are not producing advanced chips for AI training and smartphones as they assert [1]. - The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that China's annual production of AI training chips is approximately 200,000 units, significantly below the market demand of around 1.5 million units [5]. - Raimondo called for stricter export controls on chips to China, citing the need to prevent technology theft, amidst a backdrop of increasing restrictions since 2019 [3][5]. Group 2: Impact on Semiconductor Industry - The U.S. semiconductor industry has seen a decline in domestic manufacturing share from 37% in 1990 to 11% currently, while China's share has increased from 7% to 24% during the same period [7]. - Major players in the 10nm and below logic chip market, TSMC and Samsung, dominate with 69% and 31% market shares respectively, creating a monopolistic environment [7]. - U.S. sanctions have not only affected Chinese firms but have also disrupted the global semiconductor supply chain, impacting U.S. companies with supply chain issues and market share losses [11]. Group 3: China's Semiconductor Advancements - Despite U.S. restrictions on advanced equipment exports, Chinese companies like Northern Huachuang and Zhongwei Semiconductor have made significant progress in back-end equipment technologies [14]. - Zhongwei Semiconductor's 5nm etching machine has been successfully integrated into TSMC's production line, indicating advancements in China's chip manufacturing capabilities [16]. - China's 12-inch wafer production capacity is expanding at a rate of 30% annually, particularly in the mature process nodes of 28nm and above, positioning China to capture a significant share of the international market [16]. Group 4: Competitive Position and International Relations - Chinese AI chips, such as Huawei's Ascend series, demonstrate competitive performance, achieving 60% of NVIDIA's H100 inference performance while reducing training costs by 40% [18]. - China has implemented export controls on rare earth materials, crucial for semiconductor manufacturing, impacting U.S. companies reliant on these materials, particularly in the automotive sector [22]. - China has signed a $280 billion chip order with ASEAN and African nations, diversifying its market dependencies and strengthening its position in the global semiconductor landscape [24]. Group 5: U.S. Allies and Internal Dissent - U.S. allies are reconsidering their positions, with the Netherlands refusing to fully comply with U.S. directives on DUV lithography machine exports, citing domestic business impacts [25]. - Major companies like Samsung and SK Hynix have lobbied against restrictions on China, warning that such measures could cripple the global automotive industry [27]. - Internal dissent in the U.S. is growing, with former officials questioning the effectiveness of sanctions and the potential for significant job losses in the semiconductor sector [27].