A bipartisan group of United States lawmakers has raised national security concerns about testing activities linked to chipmaking equipment at Intel. The group includes Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren and Republican Senator Tom Cotton. Reuters first reported the concerns on Wednesday.
Lawmakers question testing of ACM equipment
Lawmakers focused on equipment produced by ACM Research. The company operates from Fremont in California. However, it also maintains deep operational ties with China.
In addition, two overseas ACM units have faced United States sanctions. Because of this background, lawmakers raised alarms about potential exposure to sensitive semiconductor technology.
ACM supplies chipmaking tools to several Chinese companies. These customers include YMTC, CXMT and SMIC. All three companies appear on United States sanction lists.
Therefore, lawmakers questioned whether sensitive knowledge could pass indirectly to Chinese firms. They warned that testing equipment inside Intel facilities could reveal advanced chip production methods.
Concerns about technology exposure
Lawmakers expressed these concerns in a letter sent Wednesday to Intel chief executive Lip-Bu Tan. In the letter, they warned that access to Intel facilities could expose valuable technical information.
They stated that ACM tools operating inside Intel environments might allow the company to observe advanced manufacturing processes. As a result, such knowledge could improve the competitiveness of ACM and Chinese military related companies.
However, Intel rejected the suggestion that its manufacturing processes use the tools. The company said ACM equipment does not operate in its semiconductor production lines.
Intel also stressed that it follows United States laws and regulations. Moreover, the company said it regularly engages with government authorities on security issues.
Broader concern about China and semiconductors
Meanwhile, ACM declined to provide an immediate comment to Reuters. Previously, the company said it could not discuss specific customer relationships.
Still, ACM confirmed that its United States team had sold and delivered several tools produced by its Asian operations to domestic customers. Furthermore, the company disclosed shipments of three tools to a major United States based semiconductor manufacturer. Some of those tools have already met performance standards during testing.
The letter included additional signatories. These lawmakers included Elissa Slotkin, Andy Kim, Jim Banks and Pete Ricketts.
Earlier scrutiny also emerged from the United States House Select Committee on China. In October, the committee said it had reviewed reports about ACM selling semiconductor manufacturing equipment to a company with United States operations.
Lawmakers also pointed to Intel’s unique position. The United States government now holds a stake in the company. Because of this investment, lawmakers said Intel must protect taxpayer interests.
They warned that ties between Intel and blacklisted Chinese firms could raise serious questions. Moreover, they said taxpayers must not fund activities that threaten national security or weaken American leadership in semiconductor manufacturing.
With inputs from Reuters