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US Bans Exports To Chinese DRAM Maker Citing National Security Risk (zdnet.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from ZDNet: The Trump administration on Monday announced it was banning U.S. exports to a Chinese semiconductor firm named Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Company, citing national security concerns. In a statement released by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC), officials said the Chinese chipmaker posed "a significant risk of being or becoming involved, in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States." DoC officials are now barring US companies from selling any products to Fujian Jinhua, which was recently nearing completion of a new dynamic random access memory (DRAM) factory project. "When a foreign company engages in activity contrary to our national security interests, we will take strong action to protect our national security. Placing Jinhua on the Entity List will limit its ability to threaten the supply chain for essential components in our military systems," said Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Commerce.

41 of 101 comments (clear)

  1. They are involved in IP theft. by yooy · · Score: 5, Informative

    They are involved in IP theft. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/0...

    1. Re:They are involved in IP theft. by Aighearach · · Score: 2

      That's OK, they won't get in any trouble, they'll only have their lifestyles re-implemented.

    2. Re:They are involved in IP theft. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Wrong.. they engaged in IP copying. No matter how much some groups scream, copying information isn't, and never will be theft.

      Gosh, how is it that there are so many legal scholars like you on Slashdot?

    3. Re:They are involved in IP theft. by TRRosen · · Score: 1

      You can't steal IP. i don't think you know what IP is.

    4. Re:They are involved in IP theft. by TRRosen · · Score: 1

      US patents are exactly that. US patents. they don't effect China in any way.

  2. In other words... by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 1

    "When a foreign company engages in activity contrary to our national security interests, we will take strong action to protect our national security. Placing Jinhua on the Entity List will limit its ability to threaten the supply chain for essential components in our military systems," said Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Commerce.

    In other words, ya gotta pay to play bitches! Call me when your check clears.

    1. Re:In other words... by Aighearach · · Score: 1

      In other words, China has a big red button somewhere that p0wns anything connected to the network that has that brand of RAM.

  3. Export control for competitive advantage? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    All rather rich coming from Wilber Ross former vice chair of the bank of cypress.

    "Jinhua is nearing completion of substantial production capacity for dynamic random access memory (DRAM) integrated circuits. The additional production, in light of the likely U.S.-origin technology, threatens the long term economic viability of U.S. suppliers of these essential components of U.S. military systems."

    If competition is now a national security issue what isn't? Is there any limit to what controls designed to prevent export of Nuclear and military technology be used for? I understand the Micron drama but it's an abuse to misuse export controls in this way for revenge.

  4. Crying wolf by ilsaloving · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Ever since Trump declared Canada to be a threat to national security, it's really hard to take these declarations seriously.

    I wonder what deal is he trying to wrangle from the company. Maybe he needs more investments in his golf courses and hotels.

    1. Re:Crying wolf by Vanyle · · Score: 1

      You can have a threat that is not intentionally harmful.

    2. Re:Crying wolf by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 1

      Well we better build our own strategic maple syrup reserve to match theirs.

      --
      Time to offend someone
  5. Re:Our beloved president's noose is getting tighte by andydread · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So will China

  6. Re:Our beloved president's noose is getting tighte by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Better the biting of the arm, well hand actually, happens now, rather than later on when the damage is even more irreparable.

  7. Re:National security concerns? by Colourspace · · Score: 4, Insightful

    China are clearly IP thieves, have been for some while, and are working against the west with no idea or desire of how to play fair. There is no international law in place of preventing this either, and at this point, it's unlikely there will be either. This is pretty much immutable at this point. So what are your plans for stopping this? No, I'm not an American (thank fuck, thanks for ruining it for the rest of us), and find Trump abhorrent in general, but I do find this his 'even a stopped clock is right once a day' moment.

  8. Re:Our beloved president's noose is getting tighte by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    They, and the communist party, can bare it.

    An elected official? (And with term limits) Not so much.

  9. Re:Screw Trump by damicatz · · Score: 1, Troll

    We also can't trust the American government with ownership of mission critical components. And government and corporations are just as entangled here as they are in China, the US government simply does a better job of obfuscating it.

    Literally almost everything Trump accuses China of doing, the American government is equally guilty of doing. There are no good guys here.

  10. Re:Our beloved president's noose is getting tighte by Powercntrl · · Score: 2

    So will China

    China knows Trump will be out by 2024 at the latest. Perhaps as soon as 2020, if everything at Walmart ends up with jacked up prices. Trump's support base aren't exactly the kind of people who enjoy spending more money for things (otherwise they wouldn't be so afraid of the socialism boogeyman).

    --

    ---
    DRM is like antifreeze, to the MPAA/RIAA it's sweet, to the consumers it's poison.
  11. Re:Snopes Fact Check: MOSTLY TRUE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    There has been little pushback from the left or right concerning the sanctions and increased tariffs the Trump administration has enacted against China or Russia. Hell the Chinese have been practically mute on the increased tariffs. Maybe they are just waiting things out to a new administration takes office? If that's their plan they might be in for a rude surprise when the next administration maintains and even strengthening the existing sanctions and tariffs. Trump has did something none of his predecessors would ever think of. He has rightly pointed out that the existing US trade policies and trade agreements put the US at a disadvantage. Trump's domestic and international detractors are not disputing the unfair agreements they are just upset he has brought the subject up in the first place. He broke the "Never talk about fight club" agreement.

    China brazenly ignore 3 of the underlying principles of all the international trade agreements and practices.

    The Chinese subsidize manufacturers which lowers the price of their major exports. They manipulate their currency instead of letting their currency value float in the international baskets. This also helps lower the prices of their exports. They do not respect any IP whether it be technical or simple entertainment. They basically steal technologies from others which cuts down on the R&D expenses they would incur if the technology is home grown. China has built their economy on quantity instead of quality and innovation. China has always practiced the China First methodology when dealing with the international community. Trump is only returning the love in terms the Chinese government can understand. The US might have a strong military but that is insignificant when compared against US international financial resources and power. Hell the Chinese government has stored vast amounts of it's wealth in the US. US Bonds and Securities are the most stable and reliable in the world. The billionaires in "the party" want the bulk of their wealth stored some place safe in case China goes tits up and they need to run for their lives.

    The Chinese government is still an authoritarian government they are just real good at controlling the information flow to the rest of the world. At this very minute they are operating "Re-education" camps for their indigenous Muslim citizens. People forcibly removed from their homes and sent to camps and forced to renounce their religion. Cameras are installed in houses to watch for any Muslim practicing their religion. They make cash incentives available to any who turn someone in to the authorities if seen breaking the rules.

  12. America: past patent pirate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    China are clearly IP thieves, have been for some while, and are working against the west with no idea or desire of how to play fair.

    Is turnabout fair play? "Why America was the China of the 19th century."

    * https://foreignpolicy.com/2012/12/06/we-were-pirates-too/

  13. Re: Snopes Fact Check: MOSTLY TRUE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    China is a communist country first and foremost. Youâ(TM)re forgetting this in most of your arguments.

    Chinaâ(TM)s government manipulates the international markets to enable them to eventually collapse the whole thing. If China is able to manufacture and produce everything needed without concern for money, they can effectively cut off the rest of the world. They have taken over market segment by market segment and made it so nearly everything from tooth brushes to airplanes cannot be manufactured without them providing at least some of the critical components. Go ahead and try to build an F-35 without buying epoxy for circuit boards from China. Try to run the oil economy without components from China.

    Within 5-10 years, China will be the only self sufficient industrialized nation in the world. They actively collect recyclable waste from every country in the world. As such, they have some of the richest stockpiles of natural resources anywhere and in quantity. Hell, they practically own the entire rare earth minerals market.

    By pumping Chinese money enmass into the western economies, they provide greater means for Westerners to depend more on China for bare survival. Letâ(TM)s be honest, why horde the money if you can use it to devalue the currency internationally as well as cause devestating international inflation.

    Within 5-10 years, China should be able to implement a token or credit based national income with no dependence outside of China. They can financially seal their borders and deny necessities of life to any country that refuses to either become part of China or that impedes their interests in taking over Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, etc...

    Why do people constantly forget that the agenda of China is not capitalism. Itâ(TM)s communism. Watch pretty much every governmental program in China and ask yourself âoeHow can this help further the communist interest?â

  14. Re:Our beloved president's noose is getting tighte by Aighearach · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Dude. The Orange beast is fed by Russia. It's a natural gas steam engine.

  15. Re: Hate the man? Love the policies by LostMyBeaver · · Score: 1

    You are so cute.

    Helping the wrong side?

    Dude... you are the disease. Red pill, wrong side, the world is not binary. Right and wrong arenâ€(TM)t the only options. There are at least 50 shades of... well whatever.

    Stop fucking polarizing. Polarization is the sickness of America. Itâ€(TM)s fucking toxic and you and any other asshole who votes red or blue is responsible for the downfall of the U.S.. I mean seriously, get a book and learn what happened to the Roman senate due to polarization.

    When someone says â€oeI dislike Trump, but...†even if I disagree with their â€oeBut...â€, I still like to see when people start realizing that even the asshole kid in school can do something they like once in a while. Itâ€(TM)s called wisdom.

    Get some.

  16. Re:National security concerns? by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 1

    Well, that's an encouraging amount of progress. To admit that the man might be right twice a day is a huge step forward. Not too long ago people were non ironically calling him a fascist dictator, which he clearly is not. Let's keep up this trend and soon enough he'll be just another politician you hate.

    --
    Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
  17. The Other Shoe Dropped by mentil · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Now that Bloomberg article makes sense: it was supposed to set the stage for this. The doubt thrown on it has made them walk back the rhetoric, so the 'national security' verbiage doesn't make so much sense any more. That said, aside from some novel rowhammer-style attack (was that ever fixed?), I can't see DRAM being a security problem. Reliability, yes, but not security.
    In any case, the military will add it to their 'will not buy' list, just like other Chinese/Russian tech. Trying to impede the completion of the factory is unnecessary unless they think it'll produce relabeled counterfeits. Presumably, Chinese-made NAND isn't a problem? The NAND fab they're about to open is going to have 50% larger production than the world's current-largest NAND company, and that's going to cause prices to plummet fast.

    --
    Corruption is convincing someone that the selfless ideal is the same as their selfish ideal.
  18. Re: Snopes Fact Check: MOSTLY TRUE by Type44Q · · Score: 3, Interesting

    China has been exporting deflation to other countries by keeping prices low you idiot.

    No Comma Faggot, is that you?!

    You don't really understand the whole 'currency thing,' do you? The Chinese need to keep the value of their currency down if they want to keep their prices low (i.e stay competitive), not the other way around.

  19. Re: Our beloved president's noose is getting tight by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    1 gallon of milk has always cost about the same as 1 gallon of gasoline.
    Food in the US is cheap.

    Medications are an indication of price gouging made possible by requiring everyone get "insurance".
    That distorts the supply and demand curve, much in the way easy to get loans inflate college tuition prices.
    Not to mention this jerk who milked it as much as he could.

    Rents are going a little crazy in several cities, but only due to the number of people relocating to an area. Prices are quick to rise and slow to fall. Your best bet for rents is to have a generic job that can be done anywhere and move to a location that isn't in demand. Don't get attached to an area if it isn't affordable to you, be pragmatic. You can move back if you like once finances are fixed (i.e. owning multiple rentals in a cheaper city).

    The cheapest car I've ever purchased was $800. It drove on the road for a couple years too.

    This 3BR/2BA property is available as a rent-to-own for $395/month - within commute distance to Oklahoma City.
    527 W College Avenue
    Seminole, OK 74868

    Work smarter, not harder.

  20. Re:Slashdot is now loved by degenerates by MachineShedFred · · Score: 1

    It's really precious that you think the degenerates weren't always here. What you are noticing is that the quality posters have left, so the signal-to-noise ratio has lowered.

    You didn't notice the noise when the signal was strong. Now you are straining to hear it through the static.

    --
    Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
  21. Commie IPhones by johnsie · · Score: 1

    Lots of Americas are dependent on Chinese made Iphones. Not sure how that can be seen as secure. Surely the fact that so many communications devices in the US use chinese made hardware is an even bigger national security risk.

  22. Re:National security concerns? by Tom · · Score: 4, Informative

    You could replace "China" with "The United States" in your comment above and you would be absolutely spot-on about the early days of the US, as they blatantly broke British copyright laws, printed books cheaply without paying royalties and such.

    Somehow, it seems emerging powers, if large enough, routinely take that route.

    --
    Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
  23. Re:National security concerns? by houghi · · Score: 2

    China are as much IP thieves as anybody who ever broke a copyright law. Their idea of the time of copyright is 0 years instead of eternity and more for the US.
    Just like the US used to do in the past.

    And as there was no risk to national security, he was not right to call that in to block it. That means the blocking of the company is not right.

    Just because you shot a convicted terrorist by accident does not mean it isn't manslaughter and wrong. BOTH parties can be wrong.

    --
    Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
  24. Canada strong army by JcMorin · · Score: 2

    Don't forget Canada have submarines to blast the US from behind! https://www.theglobeandmail.co...

  25. Re:National security concerns? by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 1

    So two wrongs make a right then?

    Look, there's no comparing a small agrarian republic printing books and a megapower stealing stealth fighter designs and nanotech fabrication techniques. Not in the same ballpark, not the same league, ain't even the same motherfuckin' sport.

    --
    Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
  26. Re:National security concerns? by Tom · · Score: 1

    So two wrongs make a right then?

    No, actually three wrongs make a right, provided you turn on average 90 degrees.

    --
    Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
  27. But not imports from same company? by mnemotronic · · Score: 1

    So they ban exports to Fujian, but not purchasing and importing from the same company? Did I miss something in the announcement underneath all the chest-thumping?

    --
    The Russians have won. They have made the world a cesspool of distrust, greed, fear and hate.
    1. Re:But not imports from same company? by cheesybagel · · Score: 1

      Fujian still has not started manufacturing a single damned thing yet.

  28. DUH! by p51d007 · · Score: 1

    The Chinese will take the ram, reverse engineer it, and then dump THEIRS on the market cheaper, driving out the competition, then jacking the price up when they have the entire market. How do you think they got so successful in everything else? They COPY everything. In fact, in most places, to do business there, you have to give up some of your property "secrets".

  29. Re:Snopes Fact Check: MOSTLY TRUE by cheesybagel · · Score: 2

    Mute? The Chinese enacted counter sanctions on all their major US import products. Which include agricultural produce and airplanes and airplane parts. They also tried to negotiate with the US, but since each negotiator the US has sent them so far sings a different tune, they have realized it is better to just wait until the US has its mid-term elections until they try again.

  30. Re:National security concerns? by cheesybagel · · Score: 1

    There was more to it than that. The USA "stole" things like steel manufacturing processes and railroad technologies like steam engines, etc. Before that a lot of cotton-mill designs were also copied without license.

  31. Re:National security concerns? by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 1

    So two wrongs make a right? It's OK for China to do? I can eat ice cream for dinner because Billy's mom let him do it? This is just whataboutism.

    --
    Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
  32. Re:National security concerns? by TRRosen · · Score: 1

    China are clearly IP thieves,

    You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. You can't steal IP it doesn't physically exist. You can violate it, you can't steal it.

  33. Re: National security concerns? by Colourspace · · Score: 1

    A very slow clap for you, perhaps one of the most irrelevant pedants of all time.