[Text/Observer Network Ju Feng]
According to Reuters , on July 29, the United States and Japan launched a new economic version of "2+2" ministerial dialogue. This has reached an agreement with close allies to establish an advanced semiconductor joint R&D center. Japanese media previously reported that the R&D center will develop 2nm chips and the production line will be put into production before 2025.
29, Japanese Foreign Minister Lin Fangzheng and Economic Minister Hagida Koichi met with US Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Commerce Raymondo in Washington, DC, USA. Four ministerial officials held the "Japan-US First Ministerial Conference on Business and Industrial Partnership" (JUCIP).
In his opening speech, Blinken said that as the world's first and third largest economy, , the United States and Japan "must work together to defend the rules-based economic order so that all countries can participate, compete and prosper."
However, Reuters saw the exclusivity of the two sides on issues such as semiconductor cooperation, and reported that "the purpose of this economic dialogue is to compete against China and to fight against the chaos caused by Russian military operations."
US-Japan economy "2+2" ministerial dialogue
Blinken said that the COVID-19 conflict with Russia and Ukraine highlighted the fragility of key supply chains, and more countries were trapped in debt quagmire. He threatened that China's so-called "coercive and retaliatory economic practices have caused some countries to fall into the choice of security, intellectual property rights and economic independence." At the joint press conference, Hagida Koichi declared that Russia's actions "a profound challenge to the international order ." He did not directly point out China, but Piriyong reiterated the previous remarks that smeared China, such as "utilizing economic influence to achieve strategic goals unfairly and opaquely" and so on.
Hagitoda Koichi announced that "Japan will act quickly" to conduct next-generation semiconductor research, and said that the Japanese and American governments have agreed to establish a new R&D center to ensure the supply of core semiconductor components.
He said the research center will be open to other "like-minded" countries.
The two countries have not announced more details of the R&D center plan, but Japan's " Nikkei News " earlier stated that the R&D center will be established in Japan before the end of this year to develop 2nm semiconductor chips. The newspaper said there will be a prototype production line in the center and will be put into production by 2025.
According to the announcement of the official website of the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Industry of Japan on July 30, the R&D center's related institutions include 4 Japanese national materials, new energy, industrial technology and other research institutes, as well as top Japanese universities such as University of Tokyo , Tohoku University , etc.
Raymondo stressed that semiconductors are "the key to economic and national security", especially advanced semiconductors. She said she would "focus on solving supply chain problems" under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).
According to the Japanese news agency, the two sides issued a joint statement after the talks calling for "adhering to the democratic values of the Indo-Pacific region" and creating an international order in the 21st century. China was not mentioned directly in the joint statement, but stated that it "we should fight against economic coercion and non-market policies."
On the 27th of this month, the U.S. Senate officially passed a huge bill that invested $280 billion to enhance the U.S. manufacturing and technology industries to fight against China. In addition to the long-planned " chip bill " of , the US Senate and House of Representatives, this bill also includes investing $200 billion to strengthen research in technology fields such as artificial intelligence , and building 20 technology research centers and other billions of dollars.
"New York Times " said on the 27th that this bipartisan bill is "the most important government intervention in industrial policy in decades" and will provide long-term strategic support for "geopolitical competition with China."
In addition to the chip bill, the US government also wants to join forces with its allies to build a "small circle" of semiconductors. Earlier this month, South Korean media reported that the United States proposed the idea of a global semiconductor industry alliance, the Chip 4, and urged South Korea to reply whether to join by the end of August. This puts South Korea in a dilemma, and the South Korean government is worried that after joining the alliance, South Korea's related industries will face related risks or impacts in China.According to reports, South Korea said it is discussing with the United States on strengthening cooperation in chip manufacturing.
Regarding semiconductor and supply chain issues, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Shu Jueting pointed out on July 21 that the stability of the industry chain supply chain is a global issue that is highly concerned by all parties. China believes that no matter what framework arrangements are, they should be inclusive and open, rather than discriminate against exclusive, and should promote the stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain, rather than damage and split the global market. Under the current circumstances, strengthening open cooperation in the industrial chain and supply chain to prevent fragmentation will benefit all parties involved and the entire world.
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