Trade war between US and China: round two

This month, the US Bureau of Industry and Security revealed a new package of strategic export controls on 140 Chinese companies, driven by a fear that the Chinese army could use artificial intelligence (AI) in automated identification and targeting of human subjects. The regulatory measures and export controls apply to high-bandwidth AI memory chips, software for chip design and development, as well as equipment used in semiconductor manufacturing. Specifically, this move from the Biden-Harris administration aims to deter China from developing state-of-the-art AI weapons, similar to those recently utilised by Ukraine and Israel. In response, Beijing has announced a ban on exporting rare earth metals and other high-tech materials such as gallium, germanium, and antimony, crucial for US military projects, including the production of F-35s.