Sébastien Le Belzic / Credit: MATTHIAS BALK / DPA / AFP
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07:10, May 04, 2023
An ambitious development plan for semiconductors has just been announced by the Chinese government, which aims to ensure the country’s self-sufficiency in the production of these electronic components, which are essential both for the automotive industry and for running intelligence. artificial on our computers.
China wants to double its production of semiconductors and is investing 74 billion dollars in this area. It is much more than the United States and Europe. A strategic project for the Chinese government in the battle that opposes it to the United States, Washington indeed prohibits the sale of electronic components to China. “I think the United States has started to practice an industrial policy in terms of chips,” says Morris Chang. He is the founder of the Taiwanese company TSMC which produces 90% of new generation chips.
China absorbs 60% of the semiconductors produced in the world
“And part of that industrial policy is to slow down China’s progress in chips. I really have nothing against that. In fact, I would even say I support it,” he adds. . China absorbs 60% of the semiconductors produced in the world and hopes with its investments to become self-sufficient within 2 years. There remains a black point, the lack of manpower estimated in China at more than 5 million people in this field.
At the end of January, several leaks in the American press reported a probable agreement between the United States, Japan and the Netherlands for the acceleration of measures aimed at limiting exports and thus Chinese development in the chip segment. advances.