Duval Times

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has called on the Biden administration to take action against Chinese semiconductor company Brite Semiconductor, urging them to block the company's access to American technology. In a letter addressed to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Rubio emphasized the need to prevent China from using American chip-design software to advance its technological and military strategy.

Rubio stated, "That Brite and other Chinese technology companies have relatively free access to American technology shows yet again that your export-control scheme is allowing China's rise as a technological power." He further highlighted the importance of addressing the lucrative and militarily significant transfer of technology between American and Chinese firms in the present, rather than solely focusing on preventing theoretical capabilities in the future.

Brite Semiconductor has come under scrutiny due to its close ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The company reportedly uses American software to design chips for its clients, including China's military suppliers and national champions. Rubio emphasized that Brite is essentially a "sock puppet" for the CCP and called attention to the fact that other Chinese technology companies also have relatively unrestricted access to American technology.

A recent investigation by Reuters revealed the close relationship between Brite, the PLA, and other notable Chinese companies. One of these companies, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), which has been blacklisted or sanctioned by multiple U.S. departments, is a principal shareholder in Brite. Brite's clients reportedly include six PLA suppliers and subsidiaries of Huawei, another blacklisted firm. The company's significance to the CCP's chip ambitions is evident as it was designated a "little giant" with access to government support in 2021.

Of concern is the fact that Brite designs chips with the assistance of American companies, particularly Cadence Design Systems and Synopsys, which provide Electronic Design Assistance (EDA) software. EDA software is a key element in the semiconductor industry that the United States and its Western allies still control. Despite the Department of Commerce's restrictions on the export of advanced EDA tools, Brite's current operations remain unaffected, raising questions about the effectiveness of the export-control scheme.

Rubio emphasized the need for swift action to prevent China's chip industrial base from growing stronger. He called for imposing the same licensing requirements on Brite as those imposed on SMIC, and highlighted the importance of strict enforcement. Additionally, Rubio urged the administration to rescind and/or deny export licenses to blacklisted entities like SMIC and expand the list of restricted EDA software to include tools that Chinese firms rely on currently.

In his letter, Rubio concluded, "Otherwise, companies like Brite will continue to design chips that may be used against us with the collaboration of American firms." The senator's call for action underscores the growing concern over China's access to U.S. technology and the need to address the potential risks it poses to national security and American interests.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.rubio.senate.gov/rubio-urges-biden-administration-to-block-chinas-brite-semiconductor-from-accessing-u-s-technology/