Japan will further restrict its exports of chip technology to China in a move that follows in the footsteps of the US or the Netherlands. Now Tokyo will limit the sales of 23 high-tech equipment to the Asian giant. The basic idea of these governments is to prevent China from having the capacity to develop chips used in quantum computing, artificial intelligence or the military industry, something that could put it at the forefront in the global technological race and risk national security.
In practice it will mean that shipments of certain equipment and materials will need the approval of export control officials. Among them would be the engraving machines capable of manufacturing 14 and 16 nanometer chips, lithography or proofing machines.
Tokyo's move follows months of lobbying by the US for Japan to join Washington in cutting shipments of semiconductor equipment to China. Japan and the Netherlands agreed in principle to join the US, but have tried to chart a middle course between the two superpowers.
With the help of the Netherlands and Japan, the US is seeking to create a global blockade to prevent China from obtaining key equipment essential to make the most advanced chips. The common front limits the shipments of leading companies in the sector such as the American Applied Materials -largest global supplier of semiconductor production equipment- Lam Research and KLA, the Dutch ASML -second largest supplier- or the Japanese Tokyo Electron, third largest player in the market.
Japanese Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura has stated that the step is not in coordination with the US and is not a ban. "These controls apply to all regions and not to a specific country," he has raised. However, nations that benefit most from trade with Japan, such as Taiwan or Singapore, may continue to import without the need for a permit.
China has responded on previous occasions that such restrictions threaten the stability of the global supply chain and the national security justifications are dubious. According to experts, China is still lagging behind in semiconductor technology compared to the West. Beijing has long wanted to make more advanced computer chips, for which it needs machines from foreign suppliers. Without these teams it will be difficult for you to make up ground.
