China has introduced guidelines to phase out US microprocessors from
Intel and AMD from government personal computers and servers, the
Financial Times reported on Sunday (Mar 24).
The procurement guidance also seeks to sideline Microsoft's Windows
operating system and foreign-made database software in favour of
domestic options, the report said.
Government agencies above the township level have been told to include
criteria requiring "safe and reliable" processors and operating systems
when making purchases, the newspaper said.
China's industry ministry in late December issued a statement with
three separate lists of CPUs, operating systems and centralised
database deemed "safe and reliable" for three years after the
publication date, all from Chinese companies, Reuters checks showed.
The State Council Information Office, which handles media queries for
the council, China's Cabinet, did not immediately respond to a faxed
request for comment.
Intel and AMD did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for
comment.
The US has been aiming to boost domestic semiconductor output and
reduce reliance on China and Taiwan with the Biden administration's
2022 CHIPS and Science Act.
It is designed to bolster US semiconductors and contains financial aid
for domestic production with subsidies for production of advanced
chips.
