On November 6, 2024, the Fudan Institute for Global Public Policy (IGPP) organized the 63rd lecture of the Fudan-LSE Lecture Series. Assistant Professor John Minnich from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) delivered a lecture on the theme of The Origins, Dynamics, and Potential Futures of the U.S.-China “Chip War,” which was chaired by Yijia Jing, Dean of IGPP. Associate Professor Yin Li from the School of International Relations and Public Affairs served as the discussant.

Assistant Professor Minnich’s research focuses on the political economy of China’s technological rise. He previously served as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Columbia-Harvard China and the World Program and as a research fellow at the Center for the Study of Contemporary China at the University of Pennsylvania.

Assistant Professor Minnich first analyzed the competition between the U.S. and Chinese semiconductor industries, explaining the significance and complexity of the “chip war.” He defined the “chip war” as a form of limited preventive economic “warfare” aimed at slowing down the technological advancements of the opposing party.

Assistant Professor Minnich highlighted that the root cause of “chip war” lies in China's rapid advancements in semiconductor technology. To address concerns about the erosion of its technological leadership, the U.S. has implemented a series of technological export restrictions targeting Chinese tech companies since 2019. China has adopted multiple counterstrategies to reduce reliance on global supply chains. He predicted that the U.S. is likely to tighten technological restrictions on Chinese companies. In the long term, China is expected to continue fostering indigenous innovation and strengthening technological cooperation to gradually reduce dependence on external technology.

Associate Professor Li noted that the lecture provided valuable insights into the origins and development of the “chip war.” He emphasized that the long-term impact of these changes on the interests of both China and the U.S. requires further study.

Subsequently, the faculty and students engaged in a lively discussion with Assistant Professor Minnich. The lecture concluded successfully with a group photo.