In 2025, China’s Chips Call for N “Qian Xuesens”
The realization of true independent controllability of China’s chips requires the joint efforts and collaborative innovation of the entire industrial chain. The United States has imposed export controls on nearly 140 Chinese entities, involving multiple industries. Four major industry associations in China have determined that American chips are unsafe and unreliable, and have recommended that domestic enterprises be cautious when purchasing. The State Administration for Market Regulation has also launched an investigation into Nvidia. Previously, the United States has imposed many sanctions on China’s technology industry. In 2018, it sanctioned ZTE, and in 2019, it sanctioned Huawei. Now, the Sino-US technology “neck-pinching” battle is inevitable. China chooses to firmly confront its opponent. On the one hand, there is no way to avoid it. On the other hand, China has made rapid progress in the medium and low-end chip fields and has also made progress in high-end chips. For example, Huawei has launched the Kirin 9020 chip.
Facing the development of China’s chips, there are two voices on the Internet. One believes that China is not capable. Chips are a systematic project and cannot be achieved overnight. The other thinks that China is strong and can be self-sufficient. As Chinese people, we must understand that it is not that China wants to fight a technology war, but that it has been forced by the United States and has nowhere to retreat. Technological security is related to national security.
Looking at a set of data, although China’s chip import volume continues to decline, it is still above 2 trillion yuan, indicating that domestic chip production capacity is insufficient and there is room for improvement in technological breakthroughs. For example, Huawei HiSilicon has achieved a breakthrough in the 5G baseband chip field, SMIC has made progress in the manufacturing process, and Tongfu Microelectronics has mastered advanced processes. However, breakthroughs in细分领域 cannot represent the entire chip industry.
Facing 2025 and the cold winter of technology sanctions, China needs to cultivate a talent echelon to give top talents a place to use their skills. Relevant departments should adjust talent selection and use policy systems. The industry must work together and form industrial alliances to keep warm. We cannot rely on buying and assembling products. We must understand that without independent controllability, there is no right to speak and no right to survive. Relevant departments cannot “forget the pain once the wound is healed” and cannot rely on outsiders. China’s chips require the joint efforts and collaborative innovation of the entire industrial chain and call for more talents like Qian Xuesen.
