Semiconductors

US, Japan Chips Alliance Aims to Thwart China Ambitions

 

The United States and Japan are to join forces to develop the next-generation of semiconductors as they aim to push back against China and its own chip ambitions.

The two long-time allies agreed to set up a new joint research centre for high-tech chips during their so-called economic “two-plus-two” ministerial meeting in Washington, Japanese Trade Minister Koichi Hagiuda said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Hagiuda also discussed energy and food security, the officials said in a news briefing.

 

Also on AF: SEC Adds Alibaba to List of Companies Facing Delisting

 

“As the world’s first- and third-largest economies, it is critical that we work together to defend the rules-based economic order, one in which all countries can participate, compete and prosper,” Blinken told the opening session.

Blinken said recent world events, including the Covid-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine, had shown the vulnerability of critical supply chains, while a growing number of countries were struggling with debt burdens due to unsustainable and non-transparent lending practices.

“The coercive and retaliatory economic practices of the People’s Republic of China force countries into choices that compromise their security, their intellectual property, their economic independence,” he said.

Japan’s Hayashi called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a serious challenge to the international order and – in an apparent reference to China, though he did not name it directly – referred to attempts “to use economic influence unfairly and opaquely to realise … strategic interests and to modify the existing international order.” 

Hagiuda said “Japan will quickly move to action” on next-generation semiconductor research and said Washington and Tokyo had agreed to launch a “new R&D organisation” to establish a secure source of the vital components. 

The research hub would be open for other “like-minded” countries to participate in, he said.

 

Taiwan World’s Leading Chipmaker

The two countries did not immediately release additional details of the plan, but Japan’s Nikkei Shimbun newspaper earlier said it would be set up in Japan by the end of this year to research 2-nanometer semiconductor chips. It will include a prototype production line and should begin producing semiconductors by 2025, the newspaper said.

“As we discussed today, semiconductors are the linchpin of our economic and national security,” said Raimondo, adding that the officials had discussed collaboration on semiconductors, “especially with respect to advanced semiconductors.”

Taiwan now makes the vast majority of semiconductors under 10 nanometers, which are used in products such as smart phones, and there is concern about the stability of supply should trouble arise involving Taiwan and China, which views the island as a renegade province.

The United States and Japan said in a joint statement they would work together “to foster supply chain resilience in strategic sectors, including, in particular, semiconductors, batteries and critical minerals.” They vowed to “build a strong battery supply chain to lead collaboration between like-minded countries.”

On ties with Russia, Hagiuda said he gained US understanding about Japan’s intention to keep its stake in the Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project despite sanctions against Moscow by Washington, Tokyo and others following the Ukraine invasion.

 

Heightened Tensions Over Taiwan

 “There are voices calling for withdrawal. But it would mean our stake goes to a third country and Russia earns an enormous profit. We explained how keeping our stake is in line with sanctions, and I believe we gained US understanding,” he said.

Japanese trading houses Mitsui & Co and Mitsubishi Corp hold a combined 22.5% stake in the project.     

Friday’s meeting came at a time of heightened tensions over Taiwan.

On Thursday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping warned in a call with US President Joe Biden against playing with fire over Taiwan, highlighting Beijing’s concerns about a possible visit to the Chinese-claimed island by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The US House passed sweeping legislation on Thursday to subsidise the domestic semiconductor industry as it competes with Chinese and other foreign manufacturers.

 

  • Reuters with additional editing by Sean O’Meara

 

Read more:

China Says US Chip Act Will Harm Supply Chain, Global Trade

SK Hynix Warns of Recession-Driven Slump in Server Chip Demand

US Advances Bill With $52 Billion Subsidies for Chipmakers

 

Sean O'Meara

Sean O'Meara is an Editor at Asia Financial. He has been a newspaper man for more than 30 years, working at local, regional and national titles in the UK as a writer, sub-editor, page designer and print editor. A football, cricket and rugby fan, he has a particular interest in sports finance.

Recent Posts

Huawei Profits Jump 144% in Fastest Growth Since US Sanctions

Huawei remained relatively muted about its achievement, doing away with the press conference and launch…

3 seconds ago

Nikkei Boosted by Big Tech, Policy Hopes Lift China Stocks

Global markets were subdued for the Easter break but Tokyo’s benchmark bourse still gained to…

2 hours ago

US ‘Drawing Up List of Sanctioned Advanced Chinese Chip Fabs’

The Joe Biden Administration is taking pains to strengthen its existing chips restrictions on China…

2 hours ago

FTX Crypto Fraudster Bankman-Fried Jailed For 25 Years

A US District Judge said the former billionaire wunderkid was responsible for one of the…

19 hours ago

China’s Big 5 Lenders Warn of Property Risks as Margins Shrink

Banks have been reluctant to deepen their exposure to the ailing real estate sector but…

21 hours ago

Chinese Biotech Giant WuXi ‘Sent US Client’s Data to Beijing’

US intelligence officials say Chinese pharma companies are risking national security at a time when…

1 day ago