Chinese foreign minister says Japanese chip curbs to drive Beijing’s self-reliance

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has stated that Japan's restrictions on exports of high-tech materials used in chip manufacturing to South Korea will drive China's pursuit of technological self-reliance. In a press conference, Wang Yi stated that Japan's actions have shown that it is necessary for China to develop its own core technologies and supply chains to ensure national security and independence.

Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang. File photo: Smithsonian’s National Zoo, via Wikicommons.

Japan has tightened export controls on high-tech materials such as hydrogen fluoride and fluorinated polyimide, which are crucial to the production of semiconductors, following a dispute with South Korea last year over wartime labor issues. The move has disrupted global supply chains, as many countries rely on Japanese firms for these materials.

China has been striving to develop its own semiconductor industry and reduce its reliance on foreign technology. However, it still lags behind countries like the United States, South Korea, and Taiwan in terms of advanced chip manufacturing capabilities. Wang Yi's comments indicate that China sees Japan's restrictions as an opportunity to accelerate its efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in technology.

Beijing’s self-reliance

"Beijing's self-reliance" refers to China's goal of achieving technological self-sufficiency and reducing its dependence on foreign technology and supplies. This includes developing its own advanced technologies in areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and 5G networks, as well as building up its domestic supply chains to ensure that it has access to key components and materials. The Chinese government has made this a top priority in its national economic and industrial policies, and it is seen as a key element of China's long-term strategy for becoming a global technological leader.

Japanese chip curbs to drive Beijing’s self-reliance

Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi. File photo: IAFOR, via Wikicommons.


Yes, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has stated that Japan's restrictions on exports of high-tech materials used in chip manufacturing to South Korea will drive China's pursuit of technological self-reliance. Japan has tightened export controls on high-tech materials such as hydrogen fluoride and fluorinated polyimide, which are crucial to the production of semiconductors, following a dispute with South Korea last year over wartime labor issues. The move has disrupted global supply chains, as many countries rely on Japanese firms for these materials. Wang Yi believes that Japan's actions demonstrate the need for China to develop its own core technologies and supply chains to ensure national security and independence.

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