▲ AI data center facilities
Amid foreign media reports that the United States is preparing to ban the import of certain Chinese components used in data centers for national security reasons, analysis within China has emerged stating that the feasibility of such a move is very low.
On August 5, Chinese media outlet The Paper reported that the Chinese industry believes a comprehensive import ban on new Chinese optical transceivers, reportedly being pursued by the U.S. administration, is unlikely to be implemented.
The outlet noted that given the current industrial landscape, U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure construction cannot proceed without Chinese optical transceiver modules, projecting based on past cases that the likelihood of an import ban is small.
Optical transceivers are core components that transmit and receive data at high speeds through optical fibers inside data centers.
The outlet claimed, "Seven of the world's top 10 optical module companies are Chinese enterprises," adding, "Currently, U.S. companies have deficiencies in both production capacity and technical levels."
It also quoted a market source as saying that even if the relevant measures are actually implemented, the impact would be at a manageable level.
Additionally, it noted that similar information had surfaced multiple times before.
The telecommunications research team at Guotai Junan Securities pointed out to the outlet that the optical communications product ecosystem is highly complex, influenced by various factors, and represents one of the sectors where globalization occurred early.
The research team argued, "Optical communication is an industry with a very high dependence on the global ecosystem," and "Blanket controls will not only damage globalization, but there is also almost no possibility that such measures will materialize."
Earlier on August 4 (U.S. local time), Reuters reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is drafting regulatory proposals to ban the import of new Chinese optical transceivers.
If introduced, the measures would block potential risks of Chinese companies stealing data, installing malicious software, or disrupting services within U.S. data centers.
In connection with this, China's state-run English-language newspaper Global Times also reported expert analysis suggesting that the U.S. measures could instead slow down the expansion of U.S. AI infrastructure.
Xiang Ligang, head of the Beijing Zhongguancun Modern Information Consumption Application Industry Technology Alliance, known as China's Silicon Valley, told the Global Times, "If this measure is implemented, U.S. tech companies, particularly cloud service providers, will face impacts such as rising costs."
He stated, "Excluding Chinese companies through unilateral regulations does not enhance U.S. technological capabilities," adding, "Instead, it could increase costs for U.S. companies and reduce the development efficiency of U.S. AI infrastructure."
The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. also stepped forward, urging the U.S. to "listen to the objective and rational voices of the business communities of both countries and stop slandering Chinese enterprises and threatening them with sanctions."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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