Globally, chip technology has become the heart of modern technology. Without chips, smartphones lose their intelligence, and electric cars can only stand still. That is why, when the United States decided to impose chip export restrictions on Huawei, the world held its breath.
Since 2019, Huawei has become the protagonist of this technological cold war. At the end of 2023, Huawei will make a strong return with its self-developed Kirin 9000S chip, which seems to be about to break the blockade of the United States in one fell swoop. But the United States did not stop, but instead increased restrictions and canceled Qualcomm and Intel's chip export licenses to Huawei.
You may be wondering, is this repression effective? In fact, this approach not only failed to completely contain Huawei, but instead inspired China's determination to accelerate the development of its own technology. In the past, Chinese tech companies did rely on imports for high-end chips, especially from the United States.
Data shows that in 2021, China's chip imports to the United States amounted to $439.7 billion. But in 2023, that figure fell to $349.4 billion, a decrease of nearly $100 billion. What does this mean? It shows that under external pressure, China has not only reduced its dependence, but also improved its ability to supply itself.
In the face of external challenges, China did not choose to wait, but accelerated the pace of its own chip industry. This can be seen from the actions of major semiconductor companies. Driven by both the government and the market, local chip design and production capacity have achieved unprecedented development.
For example, China's chip self-sufficiency rate is increasing year by year, and imports are also declining. In the first four months of 2024, China's chip imports were only $48 billion, down 11.4% from the same period last year. This not only demonstrates China's firm determination to reduce its dependence on foreign countries, but also a clear signal of scientific and technological self-reliance.
Why is this change important? Because it represents a kind of strategic self-confidence. When a country is able to achieve independence in key technologies, its national defense security, economic independence, and international competitiveness will be fundamentally enhanced. In this regard, China has shown its potential and determination not to lose to any country. Especially in cutting-edge areas such as AI and electric vehicles, China is laying a solid foundation for its own technological future by reducing its dependence on external technologies.
However, the wrestling between China and the United States over chip technology also reveals a broader issue of international cooperation. The United States is trying to maintain its leading position in the field of science and technology by restricting chip exports, while China is ensuring its competitiveness on the international stage by strengthening its independent research and development capabilities. This "you don't sell, I don't buy" situation seems to be siloed on the surface, but in fact, it reflects a deeper trend of global technological autonomy.
In the long run, this trend could lead to a deepening of fragmentation and estrangement in the global tech sector. Technological barriers between countries are increasing, and global innovation networks can be hampered by a lack of communication and cooperation. This is undoubtedly a challenge for those technology companies that rely on globalization to survive and thrive. And for the average consumer, technological progress may be slowed down by a lack of international cooperation.
Behind this chip war is a bigger question: which is more important, technological autonomy or global cooperation? In the current era of rapid technological development, every country wants to master its own scientific and technological lifeline.
However, the essence of science and technology transcends national borders, and its greatest value lies in promoting the common progress of mankind. While we emphasize the autonomy of science and technology, should we also look for new models of international cooperation to ensure that scientific and technological innovation is not hindered and that the global economy and society can benefit together?
This is a question worth pondering in every country. Perhaps, the future of the tech landscape will be dominated by countries and companies that can find the best balance between autonomy and cooperation. In this process, each step may be a leap forward, or a backward step. The choice is in each and every one of us.