JAKARTA US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview with National Public Radio on Friday, April 26, that US export restrictions on deliveries of advanced computer chips to China are intended to hinder China's economic and technological development. He said it was not something he did.
Since 2022, US authorities have implemented extensive restrictions on computer chip exports to the Bamboo Curtain country, reducing sales from Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Intel, and others, among others. These regulations follow an earlier ban on chip shipments to Huawei Technologies.
However, US authorities have granted at least two licenses to US companies Intel and Qualcomm to continue shipping chips to Huawei. Huawei uses Intel chips to power new laptop models. Although some Republicans criticized the Intel exception this week, Blinken emphasized that the device was a sign that the United States was not trying to thwart China.
“It looks like Huawei has released a new laptop that's proud of its AI guys and uses Intel chips,” Blinken told NPR host Steve Inskeep during a visit to Beijing. “I think this shows that we are only focusing on the most sensitive technologies that could threaten our security. It is not focused on issues that limit or hinder China.
Intel and Qualcomm's sales licenses to Huawei were granted during President Donald Trump's administration and will remain in effect under President Joe Biden. However, direct competitors of these companies, such as AMD and MediaTek, did not accept similar exceptions. Neither the Trump administration nor the Biden administration has explained why this happened.
Tags: Antony Blinken America Serikat China Chip Intel
