In recent years, with the continuous escalation of Sino-US trade frictions, a "chip war" involving the international semiconductor industry pattern has been quietly staged. In order to maintain its technological supremacy, the United States has taken a series of measures to suppress China's semiconductor industry, including restricting the export of key equipment and banning the export of advanced chips. In this "smokeless" war, South Korean companies have undoubtedly become the biggest victims. The Korean media's voice at this time not only revealed the secret manipulation of the United States, but also sounded the alarm for the future development of the Korean semiconductor industry.
1. The United States restricts shipments from Japan, South Korea and the Netherlands and secretly arranges Nvidia to ship to Chinese companies
In the "chip war" launched by the United States against China's semiconductor industry, its means can be described as endless. First of all, the United States, together with allies such as Japan and the Netherlands, has introduced strict export control measures, restricting the export of key equipment such as ASML to China. This has undoubtedly brought great challenges to the development of China's semiconductor industry.
But what is surprising is that although ASML has been forced to be affected by export controls, it still said that it insists on shipping to China within the permitted range, and has successfully completed the delivery of about 60 billion yuan of lithography machine orders. This statement and action not only reflects ASML's attention to China's semiconductor market, but also injects strong impetus into China's semiconductor industry.
However, in the process, South Korean companies have become the biggest victims of the "chip war" of the United States. According to South Korean media reports, under the export control measures of the United States, the revenue of the four major groups in South Korea fell by more than 65.9% year-on-year. This has undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to South Korea's semiconductor industry.
But at the same time, the Korean media also found that while restricting the shipments of Japanese, South Korean and Dutch companies, the United States secretly arranged for Nvidia to ship to China. It is reported that although the United States has interrupted the chip supply chain, it is still unable to cut off the channel for high-end chips to flow into the Chinese market. NVIDIA's top-of-the-line H100 and A100 chips are being shipped to China through third-party companies registered in Singapore, Malaysia and other places.
This phenomenon clearly gives the impression that there is a "double standard" in the United States. On the one hand, the United States imposes strict export controls on allies such as Japan and South Korea, placing them on the "front"; On the other hand, it has secretly arranged for Nvidia and other American companies to continue to ship to China to safeguard their own interests. This can't help but make people suspect that the real purpose of the United States in this "chip war" is not to completely curb China's semiconductor development.
Second, the U.S. restrictions are intended to serve the greater good
So, what exactly is the real purpose of the United States in this "chip war"? On the surface, the various restrictive measures of the United States are undoubtedly aimed at curbing the development of China's semiconductor industry and maintaining its hegemony in the global technology field. But if we analyze it closely, it is not difficult to find some deeper purposes behind it.
Restricting China for more gain
First, the United States may not be motivated solely by containing China, but rather by restrictive measures to gain more benefits. As pointed out by the Korean media, the purpose of the United States to launch these chip rules is likely to limit the development of China's semiconductor industry, so as to effectively sell the chips of American companies and obtain greater benefits.
In this "chip war", although the United States has taken a series of suppressive measures against China, it has secretly allowed Nvidia and other companies to continue to ship to China. This may be precisely a tactic of the United States to pursue the greater good. On the one hand, the restrictive measures have dampened the development momentum of China's semiconductor industry, forcing China to rely on American chips; On the other hand, it has secretly released some shipments to maintain its share and profit margins in the chip market.
Hinder China's rise and consolidate its technological superiority
In addition to seeking benefits, another purpose of the United States in this "chip war" is likely to be to try to hinder the rise of China's semiconductor industry and maintain its dominant position in the global technology field.
With the continuous development of China's semiconductor industry, its technical level and market position have been significantly improved, which undoubtedly poses a huge challenge to the scientific and technological hegemony of the United States. Therefore, the United States has to adopt various means to curb the development of China's semiconductor industry in order to continue its dominant position in the global technology landscape.
Restricting the export of key equipment and banning the export of advanced chips may be the means adopted by the United States to this end. Although this will bring certain difficulties to the development of China's semiconductor industry, in the long run, as long as China continues to increase investment and innovation in the semiconductor field, it will eventually break through the blockade of the United States and become a real technological power.
3. South Korea's semiconductor industry is in a dilemma
In this "chip war", South Korean semiconductor companies have undoubtedly become the biggest victims. According to Korean media reports, under the influence of U.S. export control measures, the revenue of South Korea's four major groups fell by more than 65.9% year-on-year, which is undoubtedly a heavy blow to the development of South Korea's semiconductor industry.
The main reasons are as follows:
Over-reliance on the Chinese market
It is reported that more than half of the chip consumption in South Korea's semiconductor industry comes from the Chinese market. This means that if the Chinese market is abandoned, South Korean semiconductor companies will face huge business risks.
It is difficult to get rid of the US containment
As an important ally of the United States, it is difficult for South Korea to maintain a completely neutral position in this "chip war". The U.S. has been exerting constant pressure through export controls and other means to force South Korean companies to make concessions accordingly. This undoubtedly greatly limits the development space of the Korean semiconductor industry.
Lack of autonomous technical capabilities
Compared with China's semiconductor industry, South Korea still has certain shortcomings in key core technologies, and it is difficult to really get rid of its dependence on the United States and other countries. This has also made it difficult for South Korea to gain the initiative in this "chip war".
Faced with such a predicament, it is clear that the South Korean government and businesses are in a dilemma. On the one hand, abandoning the Chinese market means huge business risks; On the other hand, confronting U.S. pressure would isolate South Korea. Therefore, South Korea must seek a delicate balance between the two.
Fourth, how South Korea can find a way out in the "chip war".
In order to protect its interests in this "chip war", South Korea must take some decisive countermeasures. Specifically, South Korea can start from the following aspects:
Accelerate independent technology research and development
South Korea's semiconductor industry has long relied on the core technology of the United States and other countries, which undoubtedly increases its passive position in the "chip war". Therefore, South Korea must increase investment in research and development of key technologies, improve its independent innovation capabilities as soon as possible, and reduce its dependence on the United States and other countries.
Seek a diversified market layout
Over-reliance on the Chinese market has undoubtedly increased the risks for South Korea's semiconductor industry. Therefore, South Korea should actively expand into other markets, such as emerging markets such as India and Southeast Asia, in order to diversify business risks and improve the industry's ability to resist risks.
Strengthen cooperation with China
Despite intense pressure from the United States, South Korea should insist on cooperation with China. On the one hand, the Chinese market is crucial to the Korean semiconductor industry. On the other hand, strengthening cooperation with China will also help South Korea seek more development opportunities in this "chip war".
Give full play to diplomatic influence
As an important ally of the United States, South Korea should make full use of its diplomatic resources to negotiate with the United States and seek more favorable terms. At the same time, it can also unite other countries to put pressure on the United States to ease its own situation.
In short, in the face of the severe challenges brought about by this "chip war", South Korea must take positive actions in terms of independent innovation, market layout, and international cooperation to maintain the long-term development of its semiconductor industry. Only in this way can we find our own way out of this "smoke-free" war.
V. Conclusion
The United States has emerged in an endless stream of methods in this "chip war", not only to severely suppress China, but also to secretly allow some companies to continue to ship to China. This undoubtedly reflects the real purpose of the United States in this war: not only to contain the rise of China's semiconductor industry, maintain its technological hegemony, but also to obtain more benefits through restrictive measures.
In this "chip war", the South Korean semiconductor industry has undoubtedly become the biggest victim. South Korea's over-reliance on the Chinese market, its difficulty in escaping the United States, and its lack of independent technological capabilities have put South Korea in a dilemma.
In order to protect its interests in this war, South Korea must act decisively. Only in this way can South Korea find its own way out of this "chip war" by accelerating independent technology research and development, seeking diversified market layout, strengthening cooperation with China, and giving full play to diplomatic influence.