Foreign Minister Antony Blinken Denies Controlling Computer Chip Exports To China To Hinder Technology Development

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, when meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping (photo: x @SecBlinken)

JAKARTA US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, stated in an interview with the National Public Radio on Friday April 26, that US export control over the delivery of advanced computer chips to China was not meant to hinder China's economy or technology development.

Since 2022, US officials have implemented extensive control over computer chip exports to the bamboo curtain country, cutting sales from Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and Intel, among others. These controls follow a previous ban on chip shipments to Huawei Technologies.

However, US officials have awarded at least two licenses to US companies - Intel and Qualcomm - to continue shipping chips to Huawei. Huawei uses Intel chips to drive new laptop models. Although some Republican Party Congressmen criticized the exception to Intel this week, Blinken highlighted the device as a sign that the US is not trying to hinder China.

"I see that Huawei has just released a new laptop that they are proud of with AI personnel, who use Intel chips," Blinken told NPR host Steve Inskeep while visiting Beijing. "I think it shows that what we focus on is only the most sensitive technology that could jeopardize our security. We are not focused on breaking trade, or on that issue limiting or hindering China."

Intel and Qualcomm licenses to sell to Huawei were granted during President Donald Trump's administration and remain in effect under President Joe Biden. However, direct competitors from these companies, such as AMD and MediaTek, did not accept similar exceptions. Neither Trump nor Biden's administration explains why this happened.