Chinese Semiconductor Executive Admits AI Chip Technology Lags Global Peers by 5–10 Years

The expansion of AI models and data centers is shifting competition toward high-performance chips, advanced process technology and manufacturing equipment. China has scale in consumer and mature-node chips but remains constrained by limited access to advanced equipment, talent and supply chains. The industry’s public acknowledgment of the gap is therefore a significant indicator of the direction of China’s chip self-sufficiency drive and capital spending.

SEMICON China 2026 was held in Shanghai from March 25 to 27, 2026. Li Haiming, senior vice president of Chongqing Xinlian Microelectronics, said China’s automotive and AI data-center chips lag global peers by 5–10 years. ACM Research CEO David Wang said performance breakthroughs depend on next-generation equipment, while Yuan Yipei of Xinxin Financial Leasing pointed to tight supplies of multilayer ceramic capacitors, or MLCCs. No new investment amount was announced at the event.