EU, Japan to boost technology cooperation

The European Union and Japan will increase cooperation around key technologies, including artificial intelligence and computer chip production, the 27-member bloc's commissioner for the internal market has said.

Thierry Breton, who leads for the EU on industry issues, met members of Japan's government on Monday and Tuesday, after saying on Twitter on Sunday the bloc wants to build new alliances to develop new technologies, and that it will "engage" with Japan on how to organize their digital space, including AI.

The closer collaboration will be overseen by the newly established EU-Japan Digital Partnership, he said, through which the nations will collaborate on such things as quantum and high-performance computing.

The EU set up a similar council last week to boost its cooperation with the Republic of Korea.

The moves follow the bloc saying it wants to reduce its reliance on China around technology, and as the US has blocked imports and exports of items connected to China's technology sector. The US has also lobbied its allies do likewise.

The Dutch government announced new restrictions on exports of some semiconductor equipment last Friday.

On Saturday, a spokesperson with China's Ministry of Commerce said China has urged the Netherlands not to abuse export control measures regarding semiconductor products.

In recent years, to safeguard its global hegemony, the US has continuously generalized the concept of national security, abused export control measures, and even sacrificed the interests of its allies, coerced and wooed other countries to suppress and contain China's semiconductors, and artificially promoted industrial decoupling and chain breaking, said the spokesperson.

Such moves seriously damaged the development of the global semiconductor industry, and China firmly opposes this.

Breton said the EU and Japan are planning to cooperate closely on the production of semiconductors.

The announcement followed the Japanese government investing last week in a fund set up to buy domestic chipmaker JSR for around $6.3 billion.

The Bloomberg news agency said the closer collaboration comes against the backdrop of growing tension around the possibility of a global technology trade war breaking out.

At Monday's meeting, Breton and Japan's Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura agreed to set up an "early warning" system that will flag problems within the microchip supply chain.

The EU and Japan also vowed to improve information-sharing about government subsidies, and boost cooperation on research and development.

The EU and Japan are planning to hold another round of high-level technology talks in Brussels, Belgium early next year.

Xinhua contributed to this story.