China's trap crime by the US... "Technology-related regulations to be expanded to quantum computing and AI"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The United States is reportedly considering expanding export controls from semiconductors to quantum computers and artificial intelligence (AI) to curb China's ambitions for technological dominance. China has accelerated its technology development by increasing research and development (R&D) spending faster than the U.S. for over 20 years, but it is facing difficulties amid successive U.S. restrictions.

On the 20th (local time), Bloomberg News cited multiple sources reporting that the Joe Biden administration is contemplating these discussions at an early stage. The scope of export control expansion under review includes quantum computing and AI software. Industry experts participating in these discussions are reportedly deliberating on how to set parameters to restrict early-stage technologies.

The U.S. appears to be aiming to pressure China's military and surveillance capabilities through these measures. Earlier, Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor at the White House, stated in a speech last month that "computing-related technologies, including microelectronics, quantum information systems, and AI, will be very important over the next decade" in relation to national security. He emphasized that export controls are crucial to maintaining leadership in these fields against adversaries.

Bloomberg reported, "If these control measures are implemented, they will be separate restrictions from the semiconductor-related export controls announced earlier this month by China." Citing sources, it added that the U.S. has shared these ideas with its allies, noting, "Expanding the 'wall' around advanced technologies risks provoking hostility from China while pressuring other countries to choose between the U.S. and China."

U.S. President Joe Biden is looking at a quantum computer while visiting the IBM Research Center in Poughkeepsie, New York, on the 6th.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The reason the U.S. is strongly pressuring China not only in semiconductors but also in quantum computing and AI is interpreted as a judgment that China's technological growth cannot be overlooked. Quantum computers, regarded as tools to solve humanity's toughest problems, are evaluated as potential national security threats due to their superior cryptographic decryption capabilities. Already in the U.S., warnings have continued, such as the 2020 report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) stating that "China's AI and quantum computing technologies threaten the U.S. military."

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), China's R&D expenditure increased by 1300% from $39.8 billion (about 57 trillion won) in 2000 to $564.1 billion in 2020. During the same period, the U.S. recorded an 84% increase from $360.3 billion to $664.1 billion. In terms of R&D spending amounts, the U.S. still leads China, but unlike the U.S., which reduced R&D spending during economically difficult times such as the 2008 global financial crisis, China has steadily expanded its investment at a rapid pace.

With active support from the Chinese government, China has achieved results in various technological fields in recent years. According to the global supercomputer performance ranking site TOP500, China surpassed the U.S. in the number of supercomputers for the first time in 2016 and ranked first. By 2020, China owned twice as many supercomputers as the U.S., widening the gap significantly. However, Bloomberg reported that since the U.S. imposed restrictions on advanced technologies targeting China, this gap has gradually narrowed last year and this year.

Regarding AI, China surpassed the U.S. this year for the first time in the global share of "influential AI papers." In semiconductor foundry processes, China's SMIC succeeded in developing a 7-nanometer (nm; 1 nm is one-billionth of a meter) process in July and reportedly supplied it to a Canadian cryptocurrency mining system, surprising the industry.

Bloomberg stated, "While U.S. sanctions have begun to inflict damage, China will not just lie down and do nothing."

In response to U.S. pressure, the Chinese government appears to be actively assessing the impact of export controls on Chinese semiconductors and discussing countermeasures. According to a Bloomberg report the previous day, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently convened a confidential meeting with executives from major semiconductor companies, including Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC) and supercomputer manufacturer Sugon Information Industry, to discuss damages caused by U.S. sanctions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.