Much recent discussion of role of South Korean memory giants in “backfilling” for lost sales from Micron after CAC restrictions on firm’s products for domestic critical information infrastructure operators. What are the issues around this likely to be important? A thread.🧵 First, South Korean memory majors Samsung and SK Hynix are already under considerable pressure in China, where they both have major operations, cranking out significant amounts (40 percent) of their global DRAM and NAND production

Blinken Meets Xi as China and the U.S. Try to Ease Tensions - The New York Times nytimes.com/2023/06/18/wor… In his opening remarks at the meeting with Mr. Blinken, Mr. Xi hinted at China’s grievances, saying: “State-to-state interactions should always be based on mutual respect and sincerity. I hope that through this visit, Mr. Secretary, you will make more positive contributions to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Opinion | Europeans and Asians don't see China like we do
Nio’s cars are designed in Munich. It has research and development centers in San Jose and Oxford, England, as well as in Beijing and Shanghai. It assembles vehicles in Hefei, China.
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/… Former British prime minister Gordon Brown explained the European dilemma. “Europe needs an industrial policy, but it cannot afford to mimic the [Biden] administration’s protectionism,” he told me. “For Europe, trade is vital; its prosperity is dependent on trade with the rest of… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

#ChinaComputePowerWatch Big....a thread 🧵
National Unified Computing Power and Network (NUPCN) Dispatch Platform Officially Released
NUPCN: designed for innovators/researchers to access computing power from data centers across China
mp.weixin.qq.com/s/xgSHMDrPAoDJ… The NUCPN DP is designed to implement the goals of the national East Data West Computing (EWDC) strategy. and "solve the problem of manageable, controllable and dispatchable computing power". China Telecom is working with CAICT to develop the platform.

This is very important piece. A short thread. 🧵
Japan’s proposed semiconductor export controls will cause unnecessary damage
globaltimes.cn/page/202305/12… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Wei is one of the most knowledgeable academics n China on the semiconductor industry, and understands the global industry well. He briefs senior leadership, including Xi, on semiconductor related issues. He also participates in many international industry meetings + conferences.

Speech by President von der Leyen at the European Parliament Plenary on the need for a coherent strategy for EU-China relations
ec.europa.eu/commission/pre… VDL: "Europe should develop an instrument on outbound investment for a very small number but very sensitive technologies. This will form part of a new Economic Security Strategy which the Commission will put forward in the coming months.”

@pstAsiatech: Great discussion of issues around Taiwan, also recommend excellent book by @ryanl_hass, @BonnieGlaser, and Richard Bush: US Taiwan Relations.
Observation: the future of Taiwan is now well beyond just US China Taiwan relations. It is now a global issue. (1/6) 🧵

https://twitter.com/pstAsiatech/status/1648312585912041472

Indeed, the Taiwan challenge now also centers on the future of the semiconductor industry, the global economy, and all associated industries. It is a strategic long-term challenge that may have a military challenge, but clearly no "military solution." (2/6)

#ChinaDataGovernanceWatch #NDA Guangdong explores data circulation transaction management: refining data broker review, and data asset registration taking into account safety and efficiency. A thread.🧵
m.21jingji.com/article/202304… Guangdong wants to lead in the implementation of December 2022 Party Central Committee blueprint for the data economy. Proposal for comment is for framework for data trading, as part of broader effort to leverage data as fifth factor of production.

Buying the Heartland

In total, Chinese-owned land makes up less than 1 percent of all foreign owned land in the U.S. and 0.03 percent of all total U.S. farmland, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
More like, buying fear... thewirechina.com/2023/04/16/buy… The perceived threat to the U.S. is also becoming more nebulous, evolving from espionage concerns to a vague fear that China is plotting to steal America’s food right from under its nose.

Japan finally released rules last week touted as aligning with US export controls released last year @ #October7Surprise. But Japanese rule did not mention China, and was far from a complete mirroring of the US controls. What is going on here? Well, its complicated. A thread.🧵 First, media reports continue to talk about a “three way agreement” btwn US, Japan, and the Netherlands. The Japanese rule release demonstrates that each country will release unilateral controls.

Recent announcements from the Dutch government and tool giant ASML suggest some forward movement on a so-called “trilateral agreement” that would see some alignment from the Netherland and Japan on the #October7ExportControls. What is going on here? A thread.🧵 Last week media reports suggested that the Dutch government was moving forward with some new controls on semiconductor manufacturing equipment. reuters.com/technology/dut…

Who Benefits From Confrontation With China?
America’s increasingly confrontational posture toward China is a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy that warrants greater scrutiny and debate.
Understatement....
nytimes.com/2023/03/11/opi… "Rather than try to trip the competition, America should focus on figuring out how to run faster, for example through increased investments in education and basic scientific research."

China files diplomatic complaint: “We disapprove of the Dutch side’s interference through administrative means in the normal trade between Dutch and Chinese businesses and have made démarches to the Netherlands.

In recent years, the US, in an attempt to fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_6…… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… “It is understandable that countries want to preserve their technological and competitive edge, but it should be done through fair competition rather than deliberately politicizing and weaponizing trade and tech issues. "

Jude Blanchette joins Sinica to talk about the House Select Committee on China and how its focus on CCP as an “existential threat” adds up to an embarrassing moral panic that distracts from the serious issues the U.S. confronts when it comes to China. thechinaproject.com/2023/03/09/the… Blanchette on the first hearing: But what I saw was just an absolute and total embarrassment, where within about five minutes, I think I just looked at my wife, and we just both put our heads into our hands.

Big....Exclusive: Dutch responds to US China policy with a plan to curb semiconductor tech exports reuters.com/technology/dut… Dutch Trade Minister Liesje Schreinemacher announced the decision in a letter to parliament, saying the restrictions will be introduced before the summer.

White House backs Senate bill to boost US ability to ban TikTok reuters.com/technology/twe… The bill would require Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to identify and address foreign threats to information and communications technology products and services. Raimondo's office declined to comment.

Biden conditions for US chip funding ‘pretty odd’ for foreign companies, industry insiders say
Yup...lots of strings attached...who still want to deal with this? Not clear... scmp.com/tech/tech-war/… “I believe this is going to cause heartburn for companies,” a second chip industry executive told Reuters, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. “It’s unknown what the market is going to do. This grant would limit their flexibility.”
Lots of heartburn...

Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo: The CHIPS Act and a Long-term Vision for America’s Technological Leadership | U.S. Department of Commerce commerce.gov/news/speeches/… Raimondo: As with our leadership in nuclear energy and the space race, America’s ability to maintain our competitive edge in advanced technologies is essential to our ability to ensure the responsible deployment of that technology.
That technology is result of global value add… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Employee doubts are rising about Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s $40 billion investment in an Arizona factory. nytimes.com/2023/02/22/tec… Many of the workers said the project could distract from the research and development focus that had long helped TSMC outmaneuver rivals. Some added that they were hesitant to move to the United States because of potential culture clashes.

US political elites overreacted to balloon; US export restrictions on China are self-harm: Freeman - Global Times globaltimes.cn/page/202302/12… Freeman: I am not sure what the content of those agreements is. They were obviously reached after pressure on both the Dutch and Japanese governments. They did agree in the end. It's not clear what they agreed to.

Yes, big missing piece of debate...Opinion | U.S. must deter, not provoke, Beijing over Taiwan - The Washington Post washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/… Given the enormous costs and uncertain trajectory of such a conflict, everyone must lower the temperature — even if they foresee decades of U.S.-China competition ahead.