Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Department of Commerce's BIS has added 23 Chinese entities to the Entity List, primarily affecting 13 semiconductor companies, prompting China to initiate an anti-discrimination investigation against U.S. measures in the integrated circuit sector [1][2][4] Group 1: U.S. Entity List and Its Implications - The U.S. has cited "violations of U.S. national security or foreign policy interests" as the reason for placing 23 Chinese entities on the Entity List [2] - Entities on the list require licenses for all items governed by EAR, with a presumption of denial for these licenses [2] - Notable companies on the list include Fudan Microelectronics Group, which is a leader in MCU, security and identification chips, and non-volatile memory [3] Group 2: China's Response - China has launched an anti-discrimination investigation into U.S. measures affecting the integrated circuit sector, focusing on discriminatory bans and restrictions since 2018 [4] - The investigation will begin on September 13, 2025, and typically lasts for three months, with potential follow-up measures based on the findings [4] Group 3: Investment Strategy and Focus Areas - The company maintains that U.S. restrictions on semiconductor exports will continue to strengthen but their effectiveness will gradually diminish, accelerating domestic substitution in China's AI and semiconductor industries [6] - Key areas for investment focus include: 1. Wafer foundries as core strategic assets for domestic semiconductor substitution [6] 2. Computing chip design firms that are rapidly building local technology systems [6] 3. Companies with low domestic production rates in advanced manufacturing equipment [6] 4. Advanced packaging technologies in AI chips, particularly in 2.5D/3D/HBM areas [6]