US-China tech war: brace for Beijing retaliation over chip export curbs, lawmaker tells Japanese firms
- Shigeharu Aoyama said Japanese companies doing business in China ‘will probably be damaged’, adding they should look for markets elsewhere
- His comments come amid reports Japan and the Netherlands are close to joining a US-led effort to restrict exports of chip-making technology to Beijing
China is “100 per cent sure” to retaliate over Japanese backing for Biden administration restrictions on semiconductor exports, and firms facing the fallout should look for markets elsewhere, a ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker said.
“China will come back with stronger retaliation and Japanese companies doing business there will probably be damaged,” said Shigeharu Aoyama, who serves on the party’s committee covering trade and industry.
“They should take that as a turning point and look for other markets,” he added, saying he backed Japan’s participation in the measures.
Japan mulls US push to curb chip exports without harming China ties
China is Japan’s largest trading partner and has said the US effort showed its “selfish hegemonic interest.”
The Biden administration issued sweeping new rules in October that include restrictions on the supply of US manufacturers’ most advanced chipmaking equipment to Chinese customers and limits on Americans working for Chinese semiconductor firms, a move aimed at choking off access to certain expertise.
Dutch chip equipment giant ASML told Bloomberg the US-led measures could also push Beijing to develop its own technology in advanced semiconductor-making machinery.