Intel CEO Says China Not Far Behind in Chip Manufacturing Technology

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan said in a recent interview with Nikkei Asia that China is not far behind the United States in chip manufacturing technology, and that companies in the two countries have different strengths and weaknesses.

Tan said meeting customer needs is Intel's top priority. "Whoever can make products that best satisfy enterprise and ordinary customers will be the one that succeeds," he said. When asked whether China can catch up with the U.S. in advanced chip technology in the next five to ten years, he replied: "For now, I don't think the gap is that large."

The gap between China and the U.S. in chip manufacturing has been a widely discussed topic in the technology industry. Elon Musk has previously said China could break through current limits in as little as two to three years. A Zeiss semiconductor business executive said a more reasonable estimate is that China lags by 15 years in the latest EUV technology.