US senator’s proposed semiconductor ban serves ‘political goals’

Chinese analysts on Tuesday criticized US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s latest proposal to ban the US government from conducting business with firms that use Chinese-made semiconductors, stressing the move only serves political goals and does nothing to benefit the global supply chain.

Schumer urged US lawmakers to support his proposal to bar the US government from doing business with firms that “use semiconductors made by producers the Pentagon considers Chinese military contractors,” Reuters reported.

Given that the US government has been constantly stepping up its crackdown on Chinese companies over semiconductors, such a hyped proposal is within expectations, analysts said, adding that it would only serve US politicians’ political goals, while hurting global supply chains.

“What the politician advocated is only to serve his political purpose, because, in fact, there are basically no China-made chips used in sensitive departments in the US government,” Fu Liang, an independent tech analyst, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The “proposal” is just another sign of how more US politicians are using the chip crackdown to reap political gains, said Fu.

Despite relentless efforts, the US has been unable to persuade its so-called allies, particularly Japan and the Netherlands, to sign a “near-term” deal to bring them on board with new US rules curbing China’s access to sophisticated chipmaking tools, showing there is increasing pushback from global chipmakers against geopolitical games played by US politicians, observers said.

China’s semiconductor industry is gradually developing its capacity, relying partly on other countries while expanding its own production, in face of the US’ reckless threatening moves, and experts forecast it will see some breakthroughs within one or two years.