第1902期:Japan Places Export Ban on Some Computer Chips

Japan recently put in place export controls on the latest microchip, or semiconductor, technologies. Observers said the move targets. Japan’s export controls follow other recent restrictions enforced by the United States and the Netherlands, two other major producers of the most modern semiconductors. Japan listed 23 kinds of semiconductor technology that have export restrictions. The restrictions started July 23. They include different kinds of advanced microchip manufacturing equipment.

日本最近对最新的微芯片或半导体技术实施了出口管制。观察人士称，此举针对的是。日本的出口管制紧随美国和荷兰这两个最现代半导体的主要生产国最近实施的其他限制。日本列出了23种有出口限制的半导体技术。 这些限制从 7 月 23 日开始。其中包括不同种类的先进微芯片制造设备。

The controls will affect ability to make advanced chips, researcher Yoshiaki Takayama of the Japan Institute for International Affairs in Tokyo said. “The Japanese measure complements U.S.-led export control measures because the number of companies with the capacity to manufacture cutting-edge chips is extremely limited,” Takayama told VOA. He added, “The Japanese measure makes it difficult for China not only to import advanced chips, but also to manufacture them.” He added that appears to be starting to produce less advanced semiconductors.

东京日本国际事务研究所研究员高山义明表示，这些控制措施将影响制造先进芯片的能力。高山告诉美国之音：“日本的措施是对美国主导的出口管制措施的补充，因为有能力制造尖端芯片的公司数量极其有限。” 他补充说：“日本的措施不仅使中国进口先进芯片变得困难，而且也使制造它们变得困难。”他补充说，似乎开始生产不太先进的半导体。

The United States banned the export of some advanced microchips and semiconductor manufacturing technology to in October and urged Western allies to do the same. The Netherlands is another important producer of semiconductors. That country enforced similar measures in June. Taiwan has also promised to support the U.S. policy. The U.S. says it wants to prevent from using the technology for military purposes. The Group of Seven large economic powers discussed the issue at its meeting in Japan in May. The allies agreed on the need to “de-risk” from possible economic coercion. Members said they want to avoid becoming dependent on for semiconductor technologies.

美国十月份禁止向出口一些先进的微芯片和半导体制造技术，并敦促西方盟友也这样做。 荷兰是另一个重要的半导体生产国。 该国于六月实施了类似措施。 台湾也承诺支持美国的政策。美国表示希望阻止将该技术用于军事目的。七国集团五月份在日本举行的会议上讨论了这个问题。 盟友们一致认为，有必要“降低”中国可能实施的经济胁迫的风险。 成员们表示，他们希望避免在半导体技术方面变得依赖。

These combined measures will severely affect ability to keep up with Western technology, Takayama said. It will hurt ability to manufacture state-of-the-art semiconductors and increase its manufacturing capacity. “Unlike the traditional mechanical technology industries, where reverse engineering has produced important technological learnings, reverse engineering does not produce useful knowledge in the semiconductor manufacturing sector,” Takayama said. He said that today’s scientific progress is largely the result of big data research and computer technology rather than repeated trial and error. And he added that it seems that, with limited availability of the latest semiconductors, could fall behind in scientific and technological research and development.

高山说，这些综合措施将严重影响跟上西方技术的能力。 它将损害制造最先进半导体的能力并提高其制造能力。高山说：“与传统的机械技术行业不同，逆向工程产生了重要的技术知识，而逆向工程在半导体制造领域不会产生有用的知识。”他表示，今天的科学进步很大程度上是大数据研究和计算机技术的结果，而不是反复试错的结果。 他补充说，由于最新半导体的供应有限，似乎可能在科技研发方面落后。