The US authorities explicitly asked the Japanese government to cooperate in preventing China from developing high-tech semiconductors.
The Kyodo news agency reported Saturday, citing sources, that US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo made a similar request to Japanese Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura during a telephone conversation on Friday.
Last October, the United States unveiled a series of export controls against China on semiconductor design and manufacturing equipment and semiconductors that can be used to create artificial intelligence systems and advanced military technologies.
It is noteworthy that Washington fears the emergence of gaps in export controls if Japan and the Netherlands, the world’s leading manufacturers of semiconductor equipment, continue to deliver to China, Kyodo reports.
Meanwhile, Tokyo fears that the introduction of similar export restrictions by Japan will cause a negative reaction from Beijing, which will complicate cooperation between the two countries.
Notably, in October, the United States blocked 28 Chinese technology companies from accessing US-made semiconductor chips around the world.
Source: TASS