Chip body assails disruption attempts

The China Semiconductor Industry Association on Wednesday called on the global semiconductor industry and academia to unite and defend the industry's globalization, while opposing the reported U.S.-Dutch-Japanese deal on imposing new export controls and restrictions on chip manufacturing in China.

"If the (reported) move becomes a reality, it will cause serious harm to the semiconductor industry in China, with detriment to the global economy, as well as long-term damage to the interests of consumers worldwide," the CSIA said in a statement.

The association protested what it described as an act of destroying the existing global semiconductor ecosystem, and opposed interference in the process of global trade liberalization. It also said such acts distort the supply-demand equation.

The association objected to the attempt to exclude China's semiconductor industry from the global innovation system and free competition market.

"Semiconductors are at the core of the global digital infrastructure, which sets the foundation for a lot of people's livelihoods in our modern society. The semiconductor industry is a global industry, and highly dependent on innovation and cooperation. Inappropriate intervention by governments and authorities can cause disruption to our industry," the CSIA said.

Highlighting that China's semiconductor market can create great economic value and promote global scientific and technological progress, the CSIA called on the global semiconductor industry and academia to unite and promote collaborative innovation, and continue to create benefits for industry and human society.

The CSIA also called on the Chinese government and the agencies concerned to establish rules for maintaining the healthy development of the global semiconductor industry. Foreign enterprises that defend the concept of globalization and the value of the global semiconductor industry can expect to receive the association's support for their business operations in the Chinese market, the CSIA said.

On Tuesday, Kevin (Jongwon) Noh, president of South Korean memory chip company SK Hynix, met Jin Zhuanglong, China's minister of industry and information technology who heads the country's top industry regulator, in Beijing to exchange views on deepening cooperation.

Zhong Xinlong, a senior consultant at the China Center for Information Industry Development Consultancy, said the chip industry's 60-year history indicates that the key factors contributing to success are the global market scale and collaborative innovation.

"The U.S. government should stop using political power to disrupt the global chip industry," Zhong said.

According to the CSIA, it joined the World Semiconductor Council in 2006, which not only shows the determination of the semiconductor industry in China to align itself with the globalization process and market-oriented development, but also demonstrates China's resolve to develop the global semiconductor industry through international collaboration.

"Reviewing history and learning from past experience, the CSIA believes that China's economic growth will bring us development opportunities and the trend will not change," the association said.

"At this particular juncture, we need to gather our confidence, to respond positively, and create a better future together."