US Lawmakers Warn on China’s Access to AI Chips as a Major Security Threat

Washington: US lawmakers and former national security officials have raised serious concerns over the increasing competition between the United States and China in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), calling it a significant national security issue. They stated that advanced AI chips now form the backbone of modern warfare, intelligence systems, and economic power.

AI Race Crucial for Military and Economic Supremacy

Experts appearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee highlighted that the next decade will be decisive in determining which country leads in military strength and whether the US can maintain its technological edge over China. Brian Mast, chairman of the committee, emphasized that winning the AI race is essential not only for America’s national security but also for its economic stability.

Mast explained that AI is currently integrated into military command systems, surveillance, cyber operations, and nuclear weapons modernisation. Former US National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger warned that if China gains access to advanced American AI chips, its military capabilities could rapidly expand. He pointed out that Nvidia’s advanced chips could enhance China’s cyber warfare, drone technology, and intelligence operations.

China’s Dual-Use Technology and Strategic Ambitions

Pottinger noted that China’s policy often involves using technology developed for civilian use in military applications as well. Former Biden administration official John Feiner described AI as the most critical competitive field between the US and China, warning that negligence on this matter could have serious consequences.

Feiner added that China views AI as a crucial technology enabling both its economic growth and military ambitions. This is why export restrictions on advanced chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment have played a key role in slowing China’s progress.

Challenges in China’s Semiconductor Production

Despite significant government investment, experts say China is still unable to produce advanced semiconductors on a large scale. Even Chinese leaders acknowledge their current lag in this sector. Pottinger explained that China is attempting to bridge this gap by purchasing advanced chips from abroad and is determined to match the US at any cost.

He also raised concerns that private Chinese technology companies buying American chips often collaborate closely with the government. Companies like DeepSea, Alibaba, and Tencent were cited as examples linked to China’s major military objectives, increasing worries about the dual-use nature of these technologies.

The growing tension over AI chip access underscores the critical intersection of technology, military power, and economic influence shaping US-China relations in the coming years.