August 1, 2023, is a great day as it marks the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. The entire nation celebrates, rejoicing in the prosperity and the path towards great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. On this day, with the approval of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs have decided to implement export control measures on indium and germanium-related metals and other items. This includes indium-related items (metallic indium/gallium nitride/gallium oxide/gallium phosphide/gallium arsenide/indium gallium arsenide/gallium selenide/gallium antimonide) and germanium-related items (metallic germanium/zoned germanium ingots/germanium phosphide zinc/germanium epitaxial growth substrates/germanium dioxide/germanium tetrachloride). Mr. Song Shiqiang, the General Manager of Kinghelm (www.kinghelm.com.cn), stated that this is one of China’s countermeasures against the “chokehold” actions of Western countries in the semiconductor industry. It is also a time for our electronic information industry and semiconductor professionals to actively pursue “domestic substitution” and strive for national glory by producing high-quality products.

Introduction to SlkorMicroes’ third-generation silicon carbide semiconductor products

Mr. Song Shiqiang, the General Manager of Sarko Microelectronics (www.slkoric.com) and Kinghelm (www.kinghelm.com), stated that gallium, known as the “new grain” of the semiconductor industry, can be used to produce gallium nitride, which is one of the most representative third-generation semiconductor materials that Sarko Microelectronics has been researching. Gallium nitride can also be used to manufacture gallium arsenide, a compound used in the production of RF chips for mobile phones and satellite communications, making it an important raw material in the semiconductor manufacturing process. Germanium and gallium are not naturally occurring metals but are typically by-products of other metal refining processes. Mr. Song Shiqiang (Huaqiangbei Songshiqiang) further explained that germanium is a silver-white metal, a by-product of zinc production, while gallium is also a silver-white metal, a by-product of aluminum ore and zinc processing. They are commonly referred to as associated minerals and have a wide range of applications in the field of electronic components, making them important strategic materials.

Screenshot of People’s Daily Overseas Edition

SlkorMicro (www.slkormicro.com), originated from the technical teams of Yonsei University in South Korea and Tsinghua University in China, has been at the forefront of international third-generation silicon carbide power device technology. SlkorMicro has now become a national high-tech enterprise that integrates design, research and development, manufacturing, and sales services. The “SLKOR” brand enjoys a good reputation in the semiconductor industry. Its product portfolio includes three major series of integrated circuits: diodes, transistors, power devices, and power management chips. Kinghelm Electronics Co., Ltd., based in Shenzhen, is a national high-tech enterprise with a technical team from Tsinghua University and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. It is a member of the “China Satellite Navigation Association” and the “Guangdong Connector Association.”

New SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) Filter Products from Kinghelm

The “Kinghelm” brand offers three major categories of products: Beidou GPS antennas, RF adapters, electrical signal connectors, terminal plugs, customized automotive and motorcycle wire harnesses, industrial and medical connectors, and military antennas. With production bases in Tangxia, Dongguan and Liuzhou, Guangxi, Kinghelm is equipped with automated wire cutting machines, cable assembly machines, microwave anechoic chambers, network analyzers, and other testing instruments. The experienced management team and well-trained workers ensure on-time delivery of high-quality products in large quantities.

Screenshot of the Ministry of Commerce website

SlkorMicro focuses on achieving localization of various nodes in the industrial chain and actively promotes the “domestic substitution” of integrated circuits. SLKOR was one of the early pioneers in the research and production of second-generation semiconductors such as indium phosphide and gallium arsenide. Among them, SLKOR’s gallium arsenide Hall devices can serve as a “domestic substitute” for products from Japan’s Asahi Kasei. Currently, SLKOR is also expanding its presence in gallium nitride power devices and RF products. RF and microwave devices have potential applications in products such as Beidou satellites from Kinghelm (www.kinghelm.com.cn). Kinghelm’s products are used in fields such as new energy vehicles, smart terminals, the Internet of Things, and national defense. With the corporate ethics of “Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you,” Kinghelm is rooted in the Beidou industry and contributes to the development of society and the prosperity of our motherland.

“Friendship cannot stand always on one side.“ Strategic resources such as chips are subject to control, as seen in the United States' regulation of the important mineral industry and its strategic layout and control over overseas and controlling countries' minerals. This practice has a long history. Additionally, there is the "Buy American" Act, which restricts the purchase of foreign products to protect domestic enterprises. It aims to undermine foreign competitors and subsidize the entry of industries into foreign markets. This dual strategy is highly effective and skillfully applied. We must respond and counteract with a comprehensive approach, including business acumen and proactive control supported by top-level design and laws. Only through preparedness for war can we prevent war, and only through engagement can we achieve decisive victory.

Chips are strategic resources, and the raw materials, equipment, and even auxiliary materials used in chip manufacturing can become scarce resources, potentially serving as strategic resources that can choke off an opponent. It's a battle of supply chains, and we must strive till the end to see who can prevail!