Chinese State Media Urges Korea to Resist US Pressure on HBM Exports

Chinese state media has advised Korea to maintain a “cool attitude” in the face of US pressure to control high bandwidth memory (HBM) exports. The Global Times, an English-language magazine affiliated with the People’s Daily, emphasized that Korea should not give in to pressure and sacrifice its own interests.

The US has been pushing Korea to restrict HBM exports, citing concerns that China may acquire advanced technologies that threaten US security. US Deputy Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Alan Esteves recently emphasized the need for Korea to supply HBM, highlighting its importance in the production of graphics processing units (GPUs).

However, the Global Times argued that China has been seeking a “win-win road map” with other countries, including Korea, and that Korea must avoid being a hostage to US export restrictions. The magazine warned that if Korea were to restrict HBM exports, the biggest victim would be the Korean semiconductor industry.

The Global Times also predicted that US pressure would lead to a decrease in the market price of Korean HBM, resulting in lower export prices and reduced profits for Korean semiconductor companies. The magazine criticized the US for attempting to force Korean companies to sacrifice sales and profits for strategic self-interest, likening it to “directly stealing money” from Korean companies.

The issue has significant implications for Korean companies such as Samsung and Hynix, which are major players in the HBM market. As the situation continues to unfold, Korea must carefully consider its response to US pressure and weigh the potential consequences for its semiconductor industry.