A state-funded Chinese semiconductor lab has claimed a breakthrough in the development of silicon photonics, which would be a step in the direction of self-sufficiency in the face of US sanctions. If the reports are correct, this would be a first for China, but not globally. The contradiction that is being highlighted here is a reflection of how difficult China’s situation is right now on semiconductors and it is unlikely to get easier any time soon.
China’s chip designers are in many cases among the best in the world, but their manufacturers struggle to make the cutting-edge chips that are required for applications such as AI and quantum computing. The US sanctions, particularly those related to chip manufacturing equipment, aren’t likely to let this change any time in the near future, either. It is a breakthrough, but it is one that should be taken with a pinch of salt. It does often go well with chips, after all.