China Targets 3nm AI Chips to Break US "Chokehold"

The Chinese province of Zhejiang has announced a five-year plan to achieve breakthroughs in advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips. The goal is to manufacture semiconductors as small as 3 to 7 nanometers. This move is a direct effort to counter U.S. restrictions on China's access to cutting-edge chip technology. Experts describe these U.S. export controls as a strategic "chokehold." Zhejiang is a major eastern technology hub. It is home to companies like e-commerce giant Alibaba and robotics firm Unitree. The province will focus on developing both the advanced chips and the equipment needed to make them. It is the latest Chinese region to prioritize this kind of innovation under a national strategy. Other major hubs like Shanghai and Shenzhen have similar plans. All are following Beijing's directive to develop homegrown technology. The push comes amid an intensifying rivalry between China and the United States in critical technologies. Mastering advanced semiconductor manufacturing is a key battlefield in this competition.