[News] Chip Battle Escalates as China’s RISC-V Gains Traction, US Reportedly Examines National Security Risks

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The US-China tech conflict has extended to RISC-V chips. Reuters reported on April 24th that the US Department of Commerce, in a letter dated around April 15th to members of Congress, highlighted concerns regarding China’s involvement in open-source RISC-V chip technology.

The Department of Commerce is reportedly assessing the potential national security risks associated with this and evaluating whether appropriate actions within its authority can effectively address any concerns.

According to the same report, the US Department of Commerce has emphasized in its letter the need for caution to avoid harming US companies participating in international organizations related to RISC-V technology. Previously, measures shifting control of 5G technology to China have posed obstacles for US companies in international standard-setting bodies (where China is also involved), thereby threatening America’s leadership position in the field.

RISC-V is an open-source architecture independent of the ARM architecture controlled by the UK-based semiconductor design company Arm, as well as the x86 architecture developed by the US chip giant Intel. RISC-V is utilized in various products, including smartphone chips and advanced processors for AI, making it a crucial component in the industry.

In an effort to break through US technology restrictions, China is reportedly placing significant emphasis on RISC-V technology. This has turned RISC-V into a new battleground in the US-China technology conflict.

As early as October 2023, Chairman Michael McCaul of the House Foreign Affairs Committee pointed out that China is abusing RISC-V to circumvent America’s dominant position in intellectual property required for chip design. McCaul cautioned against supporting China’s technology transfer strategy, as it would weaken US export control laws.

Regarding China’s promotion of RISC-V technology, Republican Senator Marco Rubio has warned that if the US does not expand export controls to address this threat, China could one day surpass the US and become the global leader in chip design.

Rubio’s statement underscores concerns within the US government about the strategic implications of China’s efforts to advance its semiconductor capabilities using technologies like RISC-V. The potential for China to gain a competitive edge in this critical sector is viewed as a significant national security issue by some US policymakers.

Read more

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• [News] U.S. Department of Commerce Claims Huawei Chips Not as Advanced, Lag Behind U.S. Chips by Several Years

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