[Finance] Stricter Controls on AI Chip Exports to China; Minister of Economic Affairs: Law Amendment Underway for Swift Action
bellala 央廣5h ago
Supermicro is suspected of illegally transferring Nvidia's Artificial Intelligence (AI) chips to China. Legislators are calling for Taiwan to tighten controls on AI chip exports to China. Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin stated today (17th) that the Ministry of Economic Affairs has begun amending relevant laws and will handle it as soon as possible. However, as it involves national security, the National Science and Technology Council, the Ministry of Finance, and other relevant agencies, cross-ministerial discussions are necessary before a decision can be made.
The Economic Committee of the Legislative Yuan reviewed the non-operating portion of the subsidiary unit budgets for the current fiscal year's central government budget, including those under the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin, along with Director-General of the Bureau of Foreign Trade Liu William and other relevant officials, were present to answer questions.
During his questioning, Democratic Progressive Party legislator Chung Chia-pin expressed concern over the case where Supermicro executives are suspected of illegally transferring Nvidia's AI chips to China. He questioned why only 12 items, such as chemical-mechanical planarization machines and photoresist strippers, are restricted for strategic high-tech goods exported to China.
Liu William responded that the restriction on these 12 items for export to China was intended to protect Taiwan's industrial competitive advantage.
Chung Chia-pin further pointed out that in the early years, Taiwan and China had both competition and cooperation in semiconductor wafers. Taiwanese companies exported chips to China, which were then assembled and sold to the United States. However, they did not want China to acquire advanced wafer manufacturing technology, hence the prohibition of exporting wafer manufacturing equipment to China.
Chung Chia-pin believes that according to Article 27 of the "Trade Act," strategic high-tech goods exported to controlled regions are punishable by imprisonment for up to 5 years. According to Article 27-2 of the "Trade Act," strategic high-tech goods exported to regions other than controlled regions are subject to a fine of NT$60,000 to NT$3 million. However, he questioned why China is not listed as a controlled region for chip exports.
Kung Ming-hsin explained that the Ministry of Economic Affairs has begun amending relevant laws. However, as it involves the responsibilities of multiple ministries and agencies, discussions with national security units are also necessary before a decision can be made.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kung Ming-hsin emphasized that the relevant law amendment involves national security and cannot be decided by the Ministry of Economic Affairs alone. Although the Ministry of Economic Affairs is the executive and supervisory authority for the Trade Act, because the amendment involves matters beyond its scope of responsibility, in-depth discussions with relevant units are required. For example, export controls and trade activities involve the Directorate General of Customs, Ministry of Finance, and other agencies. Furthermore, the National Science and Technology Council must determine which chips are subject to control.
Regarding the control of AI chip exports to China, Kung Ming-hsin stated that there will definitely be corresponding measures, and they will be implemented as soon as possible. (Editor: Chen Wen-wei)
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=215031
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