Intel boss in bid to ensure US officials 'have facts'
Intel chief executive Lip-Bu Tan says he has 'always operated within the highest legal and ethical standards'. File photo: Reuters
Intel chief executive Lip-Bu Tan said the US chipmaker was engaged with the Trump administration to address the concerns raised and ensure officials "have the facts".
Tan's statement came hours after US President Donald Trump demanded on Thursday that the new Intel boss resign "immediately" in the wake of national security concerns raised by Republican senator Tom Cotton over his links to firms in China.
Intel is one of Silicon Valley's most iconic companies, but its fortunes have been dwarfed by Asian powerhouses TSMC and Samsung, which dominate the made-to-order semiconductor business.
In his statement, Tan said there has been "a lot of misinformation circulating" about his past roles at Walden International and Cadence Design Systems.
"I want to be absolutely clear: Over 40+ years in the industry, I've built relationships around the world and across our diverse ecosystem," Tan said.
"And I have always operated within the highest legal and ethical standards."
He stressed that the United States has been his home for over 40 years and that he is "profoundly grateful for the opportunities it has given me."
He added that he fully shares Trump's commitment to "advancing US national and economic security" and is proud to lead a company "so central to these goals".
The Malaysia-born tech industry veteran took the helm at struggling Intel in March, announcing layoffs as White House tariffs and export restrictions muddied the market.
He has previously said it "won't be easy" to overcome challenges faced by the company.
The company was also caught by surprise with the emergence of Nvidia as the world's preeminent AI chip provider.
Intel's niche has been chips used in traditional computing processes, which steadily being eclipsed by the AI revolution. (AFP)
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