(JW Insights) Aug 16 -- Gerald Yin, the founder and chairman of China's Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc. (AMEC中微半导体), recently expressed that China's semiconductor equipment industry could be pushed back five generations in semiconductor equipment technology by the US blockades and it is not acceptable, reported Digitimes on August 15. Yin is one of the most influential industry leaders for China's chip equipment industry.

"The United States and its allies have been obstructing the development of China's semiconductor industry, often citing national security reasons." However, Yin believes "the turning point was the comprehensive ban imposed by the US on October 7, 2022. He argues that the true intentions of the US government have become evident since then, leading to China falling behind by at least five generations in semiconductor chip manufacturing technology," said the Digitimes report.

It is reported also by South China Morning Post and other Chinese media that Yin pointed out that from 2019 to the present, both the Trump and Biden administrations have implemented 15 rounds of semiconductor-related restrictions, all aimed at curbing the advancement of China's semiconductor industry. This includes measures to maintain at least a five-generation gap between China's chip manufacturing technology and that of foreign countries, including in the 14-nanometer process.

"The gap between China and foreign countries has grown from a 2-generation difference to a 5-generation difference due to the recent restrictions. China has been pushed back from the 3-nanometer process to the 14-nanometer process. This situation only allows China's semiconductor industry to work on mature processes of 28 nanometers and above, which is unacceptable for the Chinese industry," said the Digitimes report.

Despite the blockades against China's semiconductor industry, some industry insiders believe that there is an opportunity for China to foster the growth of its semiconductor equipment sector.

Up to now, there are already over 200 Chinese companies in the semiconductor equipment and components sector. But in a current fragmented nature of the Chinese industry, some local chip equipment and materials cannot meet the core needs of wafer fabs. In the short term, it remains challenging to replace imported chip equipment, according to the Digitimes report.

(Li PP)