China to Publish Policy Boosting RISC-V Chip Use Nationwide - Sources

China is set to publish a policy aimed at boosting the use of open-source RISC-V chips nationwide, according to two sources briefed on the matter. The policy guidance, which could be released as soon as this month, is being drafted jointly by eight government bodies, including the Cyberspace Administration of China, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the China National Intellectual Property Administration. The sources declined to be named as the policy discussions were still underway. The four ministries did not respond to requests for comment.

RISC-V is an open-source technology used to design a range of less-sophisticated chips, from those in smartphones to CPUs for artificial intelligence servers. It competes globally with proprietary and more commonly used chip architecture technology, including x86 (dominated by U.S. firms Intel and Advanced Micro Devices) and ARM (developed by SoftBank Group-owned Arm Holdings). In China, state entities and research institutes have eagerly embraced RISC-V in recent years, seeing it as a geopolitically neutral option. Chinese chip designers are attracted by its lower costs, but the government has yet to mention it in policy.

The widening use of RISC-V in China has been greeted warily in the United States, as friction between Washington and Beijing grows, particularly over technology. In 2023, some U.S. lawmakers put pressure on the Biden administration to restrict American companies from working on the technology over concerns that Beijing was exploiting its open-source nature to advance its own semiconductor industry. However, Calista Redmond, CEO of RISC-V International, defended open-source collaboration, stating that it advances the development of technology and leads to the creation of very useful things like USB and Ethernet. She also pointed out that RISC-V International is merely a publisher of a standard.

Despite the potential concerns, China is forging ahead with RISC-V. Local chip design firm Loongson has used the ISA to create things like desktop PC chips currently being rolled out to Chinese schools and a server-grade processor that Alibaba Cloud plans to put into production later in 2024. China has made it plain that it wants more of this sort of thing, approving only processors it can control to some extent and issuing its own bans on the import of U.S. tech.

The new policy guidance on boosting the use of RISC-V chips in China is expected to have several positive impacts on the domestic chip industry, benefiting both Chinese companies and consumers. By encouraging the use of open-source RISC-V chips, the policy aims to reduce China's dependence on Western-owned technology, lower costs, and increase flexibility in product development. This can lead to cost savings and increased flexibility in product development, as well as the attraction of talent and investment to the domestic chip industry. The policy is also expected to foster innovation and technological advancement in the domestic chip industry, driving progress in the sector.

In conclusion, the policy guidance on boosting the use of RISC-V chips in China is a significant step towards reducing dependence on foreign technology, lowering costs, and increasing flexibility in product development. By embracing RISC-V, China seeks to foster domestic innovation, enhance geopolitical neutrality, and drive progress in the domestic chip industry. As the policy is implemented, Chinese companies and consumers can expect to see more affordable and customized products, as well as increased investment and innovation in the domestic chip industry.