The US expanded semiconductor restrictions to include Nvidia's H20 chip, previously the only compliant AI processor available to Chinese buyers, as the Trump administration deepens technology curbs on Beijing

South Korean exporters are facing mounting pressure from a confluence of geopolitical and trade shocks, as the intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran rattles global commodity markets and new waves of US tariffs threaten key industries, including steel, appliances, and automobiles

As the US steps up efforts to secure its unmanned systems supply chain from Chinese influence, Taiwan is emerging as a key potential partner, leveraging its cybersecurity protocols and expanding defense ambitions

China continues to lag behind memory giants SK Hynix, Micron, and Samsung Electronics in developing high bandwidth memory (HBM) technology. Although US export controls on semiconductor tools, such as lithography systems, etching equipment, and TSV processes, present long-term barriers, they have had limited short-term impact on China's HBM research and domestic production

South Korea's presidential office has appointed Ha Jung-woo as its first senior presidential secretary for AI affairs, a newly created role under President Lee Jae-myung's administration. Ha, currently leading Naver Cloud AI Innovation Center, will oversee national AI strategy and budget, directly advising the president, reported ZD Korea and Ddaily

Canon Machinery, a subsidiary of Japan's Canon Inc., is intensifying its development of hybrid bonding technology as it seeks to expand beyond its conventional die-bonding equipment. The company plans to introduce its advanced packaging solutions to the market after 2026, aiming to meet the increasing demand from leading semiconductor manufacturers

Chinese chipmaker Beijing SemiDrive Technology Corporation will begin supplying its flagship X9 smart cockpit processor to an unnamed European carmaker in late 2026—its first large-scale deal with a foreign original equipment manufacturer. The chips will power sedans and SUVs produced in Europe for distribution across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa

The third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) will be held from July 16 to 20, 2025, featuring over 230 new exhibitors, including Nvidia, which will debut at the event. The expo is expected to attract 1,200 enterprises and institutions from 75 countries and regions, according to Reuters, citing CCTV

As Moore's Law nears its physical limits, global semiconductor research and development are entering uncharted territory. For China, this transition presents a dual imperative: reduce dependence on foreign technology and chart a self-sustaining, forward-leaning innovation roadmap

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company will no longer include China in its official forecasts, signaling a pivotal shift in how the US chip giant navigates the intensifying tech rift between Washington and Beijing. While US export restrictions continue to curb Nvidia's ability to sell its most advanced chips to China, Huang acknowledged that the Chinese market remains strategically important — and increasingly contested

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) announced on June 15, 2025, that it had added 601 entities—including Chinese tech giants Huawei and SMIC—to its export control list, citing concerns over weapons proliferation and national security. The regulation requires Taiwanese firms to secure export licenses before supplying to any listed company. Optical component suppliers such as Largan Precision and Genius Electronic Optical (GSEO) downplayed the impact, saying their operations remain unaffected

Despite recent consensus between Washington and Beijing on a trade framework agreement in London, escalating US export restrictions on artificial intelligence (AI) chip design tools have prompted Chinese antitrust regulators to delay approval of Synopsys's proposed US$35 billion acquisition of simulation software firm Ansys

On June 16, 2025, China officially completed the commercialization and delivery of the ez-QREngine 2.0, its first superconducting quantum computing measurement and control system designed to operate at a scale of 1,000 qubits. This system, developed by QuantumCTek, has been deployed on quantum computing platforms in Hefei and other locations across the country. It supports measurement and control requirements for over 5,000 qubits, providing a critical technical foundation for China's ambitions to develop indigenous, error-correctable, large-scale quantum computers

Amid the global shift in technology dynamics, China's semiconductor industry stands at a critical strategic turning point. As the 15th Five-Year Plan approaches, semiconductor equipment—being the core of the upstream supply chain—is no longer just about catching up but is entrusted with the mission of achieving stronger technological breakthroughs and securing self-reliance