US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has called on lawmakers, Silicon Valley, and US allies to prevent China from accessing semiconductors and cutting-edge technologies critical to national security. Speaking at a national defense forum in California, Raimondo emphasized that China poses the biggest threat the US has ever faced and reiterated that China is not a friend to the US. The ongoing commercial and geopolitical rivalry between the two countries underscores the importance of her department's role.

To counter China's potential use of advanced chips, including those for artificial intelligence (AI) development, in its military, Raimondo unveiled a series of restrictions on their export to China in October. This move, although causing some grievances among chip company CEOs, prioritizes protecting national security over short-term revenue. Raimondo stressed the benefits of democracy and the rule of law, both domestically and internationally, for businesses. Highlighting the role of the private sector, Raimondo acknowledged that companies like Nvidia, which produce highly sophisticated chips for AI development, have created products that just fall below the department's export limit.

However, she asserted that this sort of approach is counterproductive in the country's efforts to safeguard its technological advancements. Raimondo went on to emphasize the need for stricter enforcement and collaboration with allies to prevent China from circumventing export controls daily. To effectively carry out its mission, Raimondo underscored the need for better funding for her department. With a budget of only $200 million, she compared it to the cost of a few fighter jets, calling for sufficient funding to protect America's technological leadership in areas like AI and advanced semiconductor design. She made it clear that the US will not allow China to catch up in these domains.