How far behind is China's chip manufacturing? One sentence response from Intel CEO

[Financial Channel/Comprehensive Report] Intel CEO Chen Liwu believes that China is not far behind the United States in terms of chip manufacturing capabilities. He made the remarks in an interview with Nikkei Asia, where he discussed Intel's restructuring plan and efforts to build a foundry business to rival TSMC, the world's largest contract chip maker.

Given that U.S. sanctions prevent Chinese companies from obtaining the latest extreme ultraviolet exposure machines, Chen Liwu was asked about the current status of the U.S. and Chinese semiconductor industries. In this regard, he pointed out that all companies, whether from China or the United States, have their own advantages and disadvantages. He went on to stress that customer needs are critical for any company, adding that ultimately the winner will be those products that are right for both the business and the customer.

Since China cannot purchase extreme ultraviolet exposure machines, it cannot reduce the size of chip circuits to improve performance and reduce power consumption like TSMC and Intel. Chen Liwu was asked whether China could catch up with the United States in advanced chip manufacturing within five to ten years. Chen Liwu's response was quite brief. He simply commented: "Now, I don't think the gap is big."