China’s military parade in Tiananmen Square on Wednesday showcased an array of advanced weaponry, but beneath the spectacle lay a more consequential development: the nation’s growing dominance in gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor technology. This technological edge is reshaping the global arms race, according to a report by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Physics, released the same day.
The report highlights that China’s GaN-based semiconductor technology has reached maturity, a critical advancement that underpins the country’s military innovations. “Behind this technological advancement lies a ‘hidden thread’ of semiconductor development: China’s GaN-based semiconductor technology has reached maturity,” the report states. This achievement is not merely a technological milestone but a strategic counter to Washington’s efforts to restrict China’s access to advanced chips.
China’s countermove has taken the form of export controls on critical raw materials like gallium and germanium, which are essential for next-generation military electronics. Framed as measures to ensure national security and fair trade, these controls effectively impose a silent sanction on the US semiconductor industry, particularly its defence capabilities. By leveraging its near-monopoly on the production of these materials, China has gained significant strategic leverage in the global semiconductor supply chain.
This advantage has enabled China to deploy cutting-edge phased array radar systems across its armed forces at a pace and scale unmatched by the United States, according to the report. Phased array radars, which use GaN semiconductors for their high-power, high-frequency capabilities, are crucial for modern military operations, providing superior detection, tracking, and targeting capabilities.
The implications of China’s GaN dominance extend beyond military hardware. It signals a broader shift in the geopolitical landscape, where technological self-sufficiency and strategic resource control are becoming key determinants of national power. For the United States and its allies, this development poses a significant challenge, necessitating a reevaluation of their semiconductor strategies and supply chain resilience.
As the global arms race evolves, China’s mastery of GaN technology is likely to influence not only military capabilities but also the broader semiconductor industry. The silent sanction imposed by China’s export controls underscores the interconnectedness of technology, economics, and national security in the 21st century. For defence planners and policymakers, the message is clear: the future of military innovation will be shaped by those who control the critical technologies and resources that underpin it.