Chinese Academic: US AI Supply Chain Security Efforts Are Doomed to Fail
Zheng Yongnian argues that economic complementarity and corporate interests make complete decoupling from China unfeasible.
A prominent Chinese academic has asserted that United States efforts to secure its artificial intelligence supply chains are destined for failure. The claims highlight the deep economic interdependence between the two superpowers and the practical impossibility of a total technological divorce.
Zheng Yongnian, dean of the School of Public Policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, made these arguments during a conference hosted by the Institute of Public Policy at South China University of Technology, as reported by the South China Morning Post. Zheng contended that complete economic decoupling is unfeasible because the US and Chinese economies remain highly complementary. Furthermore, he claimed that restricting US companies' access to low-cost Chinese AI models would constitute "self-harm" and run directly counter to the interests of those corporations.
The Push for Decoupling
These comments come as the US government aggressively pursues a strategy of "de-risking" its critical technology sectors. Through a combination of stringent export controls on high-end semiconductors and massive domestic subsidies via the CHIPS Act, Washington aims to reduce its reliance on foreign AI hardware and software. The goal is to create a secure, domestic ecosystem that prevents adversaries from accessing cutting-edge American technology while insulating US infrastructure from foreign vulnerabilities.
Strategic Implications
The debate over supply chain security is not merely technical but central to global power dynamics. If the US is unable to secure its AI supply chain, it may face significant vulnerabilities in national security and economic competitiveness. As AI becomes the primary engine for military innovation and industrial productivity, the ability to control the flow of chips and models becomes a matter of sovereign survival. However, as Zheng suggests, the globalized nature of semiconductor production means that no single nation can easily operate in a vacuum without incurring massive costs.
Future Outlook
Whether the US can successfully balance national security with the economic realities of global trade remains a critical question. Observers will be watching for how US firms react to further restrictions and whether the CHIPS Act can produce enough domestic capacity to offset the loss of Chinese integration. For now, the tension between strategic autonomy and economic efficiency continues to define the AI arms race.