Japan Places Export Ban on Some Computer Chips
2023-07-29
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1Japan recently put in place export controls on the latest microchip, or semiconductor, technologies.
2Observers said the move targets China.
3Japan's export controls follow other recent restrictions enforced by the United States and the Netherlands, two other major producers of the most modern semiconductors.
4Japan listed 23 kinds of semiconductor technology that have export restrictions.
5The restrictions started July 23. They include different kinds of advanced microchip manufacturing equipment.
6The controls will affect China's ability to make advanced chips, researcher Yoshiaki Takayama of the Japan Institute for International Affairs in Tokyo said.
7"The Japanese measure complements U.S.-led export control measures because the number of companies with the capacity to manufacture cutting-edge chips is extremely limited," Takayama told VOA.
8He added, "The Japanese measure makes it difficult for China not only to import advanced chips, but also to manufacture them."
9He added that China appears to be starting to produce less advanced semiconductors.
10The United States banned the export of some advanced microchips and semiconductor manufacturing technology to China in October and urged Western allies to do the same.
11The Netherlands is another important producer of semiconductors.
12That country enforced similar measures in June. Taiwan has also promised to support the U.S. policy.
13The U.S. says it wants to prevent China from using the technology for military purposes.
14The Group of Seven large economic powers discussed the issue at its meeting in Japan in May.
15The allies agreed on the need to "de-risk" from possible Chinese economic coercion.
16Members said they want to avoid becoming dependent on China for semiconductor technologies.
17These combined measures will severely affect China's ability to keep up with Western technology, Takayama said.
18It will hurt China's ability to manufacture state-of-the-art semiconductors and increase its manufacturing capacity.
19"Unlike the traditional mechanical technology industries, where reverse engineering has produced important technological learnings, reverse engineering does not produce useful knowledge in the semiconductor manufacturing sector," Takayama said.
20He said that today's scientific progress is largely the result of big data research and computer technology rather than repeated trial and error.
21And he added that it seems that China, with limited availability of the latest semiconductors, could fall behind in scientific and technological research and development.
22Unlike the United States and the Netherlands, Japan did not name China as the target of its export restrictions.
23The restrictions affect 160 countries. However, China still reacted angrily.
24Researchers say it is important that Western allies work together on their export controls.
25The U.S. is expected to update its list of banned semiconductor technologies soon.
26In a retaliatory move, China banned the import of semiconductors from the American company Micron in May.
27Chinese officials said the ban was over national security concerns.
28Takayama said some companies in Japan fear China will seek to restrict their imports.
29China has additionally threatened to restrict exports of two important metals in the production of semiconductors: gallium and germanium.
30China's move seems to be in response to the U.S. Chips Act and the increasing pressure on U.S. allies to restrict sales of microchip technology.
31I'm Gregory Stachel.
1Japan recently put in place export controls on the latest microchip, or semiconductor, technologies. 2Observers said the move targets China. 3Japan's export controls follow other recent restrictions enforced by the United States and the Netherlands, two other major producers of the most modern semiconductors. 4Japan listed 23 kinds of semiconductor technology that have export restrictions. The restrictions started July 23. They include different kinds of advanced microchip manufacturing equipment. 5The controls will affect China's ability to make advanced chips, researcher Yoshiaki Takayama of the Japan Institute for International Affairs in Tokyo said. 6"The Japanese measure complements U.S.-led export control measures because the number of companies with the capacity to manufacture cutting-edge chips is extremely limited," Takayama told VOA. He added, "The Japanese measure makes it difficult for China not only to import advanced chips, but also to manufacture them." 7He added that China appears to be starting to produce less advanced semiconductors. 8Western controls 9The United States banned the export of some advanced microchips and semiconductor manufacturing technology to China in October and urged Western allies to do the same. The Netherlands is another important producer of semiconductors. That country enforced similar measures in June. Taiwan has also promised to support the U.S. policy. 10The U.S. says it wants to prevent China from using the technology for military purposes. 11The Group of Seven large economic powers discussed the issue at its meeting in Japan in May. The allies agreed on the need to "de-risk" from possible Chinese economic coercion. Members said they want to avoid becoming dependent on China for semiconductor technologies. 12These combined measures will severely affect China's ability to keep up with Western technology, Takayama said. It will hurt China's ability to manufacture state-of-the-art semiconductors and increase its manufacturing capacity. 13"Unlike the traditional mechanical technology industries, where reverse engineering has produced important technological learnings, reverse engineering does not produce useful knowledge in the semiconductor manufacturing sector," Takayama said. 14He said that today's scientific progress is largely the result of big data research and computer technology rather than repeated trial and error. And he added that it seems that China, with limited availability of the latest semiconductors, could fall behind in scientific and technological research and development. 15Unlike the United States and the Netherlands, Japan did not name China as the target of its export restrictions. The restrictions affect 160 countries. However, China still reacted angrily. 16Researchers say it is important that Western allies work together on their export controls. The U.S. is expected to update its list of banned semiconductor technologies soon. 17China's response 18In a retaliatory move, China banned the import of semiconductors from the American company Micron in May. Chinese officials said the ban was over national security concerns. Takayama said some companies in Japan fear China will seek to restrict their imports. 19China has additionally threatened to restrict exports of two important metals in the production of semiconductors: gallium and germanium. 20China's move seems to be in response to the U.S. Chips Act and the increasing pressure on U.S. allies to restrict sales of microchip technology. 21I'm Gregory Stachel. 22Gregory Stachel adapted this report for VOA Learning English from Associated Press and Reuters sources. 23________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25chip - n. (technology) a very small piece of hard material (usually silicon) in a computer or other device that contains many electronic circuits 26complement - v. to complete something else or make it better 27capacity - n. the ability to do something 28coerce - v. to make (someone) do something by using force or threats 29reverse engineer - v. to study the parts of a device to see how it was made and how it works so that you can make something that is like it 30retaliate - v. to do something bad to someone who has hurt you or treated you badly: to get revenge against someone 31state-of-the-art - adj. having or using the latest technology 32trial and error - phrase the process of trying different ways to solve a problem until you find one that works 33_______________________________________________ 34What do you think of this story? 35We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 36Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.