Introduction: Europe and the United States have imposed chip blockade measures on Russia, aiming to restrict Russia's access to advanced Western technology, however, Russia still imports a large number of American chips, which has sparked discussion and speculation. And the chip path behind this is inextricably linked, how did Russia bypass sanctions and obtain Western chips?
Despite facing the blockade of Western chips, Russia still sold $1.7 billion in chips in the first three quarters of 2023, including American chips such as AMD, Intel, and Texas Instruments. Most of these chips are not purchased directly from the United States, but are transited through third-party countries such as Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. This way of bypassing sanctions through intermediaries has become an important way for Russia to obtain Western chips.
Expansion: Against the backdrop of the chip blockade, in order to circumvent the embargo, Russia has taken a series of clever measures to transit through transshipment companies in third countries, such as Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. This complex path not only brings Russia the chips it needs, but also increases the difficulty of tracking, making the process of Western chips flowing into the Russian market full of unknowns and mysteries.
According to a report by the Royal United Services Research Institute of the United Kingdom, researchers in the Ukrainian region have found a large number of foreign components from Russian-made missiles, including chips from Texas Instruments, Supermicro Semiconductor and other companies in the United States. These components are even used in the hand-held navigation system of the Russian special forces, and the memory microchip in it is actually from the American Cypress semiconductor. This discovery of Western chips in Russian defense equipment has raised concerns about Russia's purchase channels and possible loopholes.
Expanding: During the investigation, it was found that Western chips are not only widespread in the civilian sphere, but have even penetrated into Russian defense equipment. The large number of Western chips in the equipment has raised questions about Russia's procurement channels and chains, and also highlights the unsatisfactory impact of Western sanctions on Russia.
The report pointed out that Russia uses forwarding companies from third-party countries to import American chips. For example, after the establishment of a PC wholesaler called AzuInternational in Turkey, it quickly forwarded a large number of American computer parts to Russia. This smuggling of chips through transit countries has become one of the important ways for Russia to acquire Western technology.
Expansion: Russia has skillfully taken advantage of the advantages of transit countries to successfully bypass the chip blockade of Europe and the United States by registering companies and reselling parts, and has achieved continuous imports of Western chips. This detour has allowed Russia to challenge sanctions, and at the same time, it has also aroused international attention to chip control and transparency.
In the process of transshipment of chips, there are also many shell companies. For example, Pixeldevices, a company registered in Hong Kong, continues to export products from Intel and AMD to Russia, although its offices are empty. The existence of these shell companies makes it difficult for the United States to intervene and control the behavior of middlemen, and facilitates Russia's access to Western chips.
Expansion: The operation of shell companies has made the ** of the chip obscure, which has exacerbated the opacity of the ** chain of chips in Russia. In the international arena, the existence of this gray area not only provides Russia with access to chips, but also brings challenges to the control measures that restrict Western countries.
In the face of the blockade and bypass import of Western chips, Russia has to face the challenge of independent research and development. Improving independent R&D and strengthening local chip manufacturing have become a top priority for Russia. Only by reducing dependence on imported chips and accelerating the research and development of local chips can we achieve self-sufficiency at the technical level.
Expansion: While facing the blockade of Western chips, Russia has also ushered in the opportunity of independent research and development. Strengthening the research and development of local chips and promoting the localization process can not only enhance the country's scientific and technological strength, but also enhance the country's technological independence. Russia should take advantage of this crisis to accelerate the development and manufacturing of its own chips, and realize the leap from dependence on imports to independent innovation.
Summary: From Russia's complex path to bypass the blockade of Western chips, to the presence of Western chips in national defense equipment, to transit countries becoming bridges for Russian chips to bypass, as well as the behind-the-scenes operation of shell companies and the challenges and opportunities of Russia's independent research and development, all reflect the complexity and importance of chip circulation in the world. In the face of Western encirclement, Russia should strengthen its determination to independent research and development, accelerate the development of the local chip industry, and achieve scientific and technological self-reliance, so as to better guarantee its development and development.