Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian Ministry of Defense: 37 Ukrainian drones destroyed in 4 hours over regions of Russia and the Black Sea.
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.

Japan joins the US in its chip war with China

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 31 Mar 2023 09:36
4 Min Read

Following similar moves by the US and the Netherlands, Japan's government announces a plan to put restrictions on computer chip-making exports.

  • x
  • Semiconductor chips are seen on a printed circuit board in this illustration picture taken February 17, 2023. (REUTERS)
    Semiconductor chips are seen on a printed circuit board in this illustration picture taken on February 17, 2023. (Reuters)

Japan's government announced measures to limit exports of 23 different types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment on Friday, following pressure from Washington to limit Beijing's access to semiconductor manufacturing technology. 

The decision was made as Tokyo revealed its top diplomat would travel to Beijing this weekend, the first time in more than three years.

China and Japan are important trading partners as the second and third-largest economies in the world, respectively. Nevertheless, relations between the two countries have deteriorated recently due to US-Japan's new militarism.

It is worth noting that the Netherlands adopted such export limits earlier this month, citing national security concerns. Amid the global struggle between powers, mainly China and the US, to gain tech superiority and establish world dominance in the industry, the European country has been the center of the US attention as it is home to one of the most advanced firms in the tech industry worldwide.

Western officials, particularly in Washington, have constantly pressured their allies to ban companies from exporting chips to China, the equipment needed to manufacture them, as well as any sort of semiconductor expertise.

Moreover, the Netherlands did not cite China in announcing its restrictions.

Japan also refrained from characterizing the regulations as being directed at China, with trade minister Yasutoshi Nishimura claiming that their goal was to "prevent the military diversion of technologies".

Japan "intends to play a responsible role in the international community" as a country with advanced memory-chip technology, he added.

Meanwhile, Washington has been crystal clear that it wants its allies to join it in limiting Chinese access to the technology.

About 10 major companies, including Tokyo Electron and Nikon will be impacted by the new measures, Jiji Press reported, quoting unnamed government sources.

Related News

Fed Governor Cook says she won't resign after Trump fired her

Syria welcomes US decision to lift sanctions, hosts US delegation

Here's what you need to know!

The United States imposed sanctions in October aimed at undermining China's flourishing semiconductors industry.

This was one of the Biden administration's most escalating steps against China in quite a while, marking a pivotal step aimed at hampering the modernization of the Chinese armed forces.

Semiconductors, more commonly known as chips, are a highly pivotal component in the defense industry, especially as it shifts and takes a more modern approach that delves into the futuristic realms requiring advanced semiconductors, which are crucial in manufacturing many things, from computers to autonomous vehicles, and even hypersonic weapons.

The Biden administration knew what it was doing with this step that intends to jeopardize China's advancement and push it back years into the past at a level not adequate with that of this time.

Though the restrictions will be of great cost for China in the meantime, the economic giant will surely not be set back for too long, especially since chips are key for national defense. China has already begun pouring national resources into the pivotal industry as an investment in the protection of its sovereignty and standing as a global superpower.

China's national approach is likely to assign thousands of engineers and computer scientists to design and manufacture semiconductors.

A RAND Corporation report issued in February highlighted how China's current defense systems use less sophisticated chips made in China, meaning the US sanctions will not affect Beijing's military capabilities, and the damage will be limited. And though costly for China and will cause strain on its resources, the PRC is fully capable of producing its cutting-edge chips. However, production is projected to be just enough to fulfill its needs instead of being for market consumption.

If anything, US chip firms will bear the brunt of their own country's decisions, especially as China serves as their largest market, accounting for 33%, 31%, and 27% of Applied Materials, Lam Research, and Intel, respectively.

Nvidia and Applied Materials will sustain heavy losses due to the sanctions, projecting a loss of $400 million next quarter, which will bring down revenue by 7% for the former and 6% for the latter.

The decision's time is far from fitting, as a staggering US economy took its toll on the semiconductor industry already experiencing a decline in revenue and an increase in input costs.

Read next: China hits back against US chip sanctions, files WTO complaint

  • United States
  • Japan
  • chipmaking
  • China

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS