
Tech war: China approves Synopsys' acquisition of Ansys after US lifts EDA ban
Synopsys ' US$35 billion acquisition of Ansys, weeks after the administration of US President
Donald Trump
lifted export controls on electronic design automation (EDA) products to the mainland.
The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said in a statement that it gave the green light to Synopsys' deal for Ansys, a computer-aided engineering software vendor, under the condition that the two firms honour their contractual obligations to Chinese clients.
Synopsys and Ansys were also required not to terminate existing agreements or reject any Chinese customer's request to renew their contracts.
The conditions set by SAMR reflect the importance of EDA technology to China's semiconductor industry, while sending a sign of easing bilateral tensions after Washington lifted export curbs on the software.
The US Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security lifted export controls on electronic design automation software sales to China earlier this month. Photo: Shutterstock

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Stablecoin scams, innovation put China's financial regulators in high-stakes balancing act
A financial dilemma has sent local-level financial authorities across China scrambling as they try to navigate a stablecoin frenzy that some say has become a breeding ground for chaos, with scams that have already duped millions. As a result, several local governments have elevated stablecoins to the top of their agendas in recent weeks while issuing urgent warnings to investors about illegal fundraising and fraudulent schemes. With this in mind, the nation's top financial authorities remain committed to financial innovation and adaptation. And regulators are doing their best to strike a balance. But in major mainland cities such as Beijing, Shenzhen, Suzhou and Chongqing, alerts went out last week. They warned that illicit financial activities, which often lure investors with promises of high returns and guaranteed interest payments, pose significant risks to public financial security. The word of caution came as a major investment scam – promoting high returns using buzzwords and terms such as 'USDT', a leading stablecoin also known as tether – was being widely reported across the mainland. Said to have defrauded more than 2 million investors, the scheme has evoked memories of widespread collapses among peer-to-peer lending platforms in China between 2018 and 2020. Thus, the dangerous financial ploy has reignited concerns about regulatory challenges in managing emerging financial technologies (fintech) in a Chinese-style market economy, and the market remains wary of what is widely perceived as a recurring flaw, with 'lax regulation leading to chaos, followed by crackdowns that cause collapse'.


South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Lawmakers warn SIM card limits won't stem tide of phone scams in Hong Kong
A law amendment proposal to reduce the number of prepaid SIM cards per user from 10 to three does not go far enough to deter rampant phone scams, according to Hong Kong lawmakers, who called for a tougher approach to handling the issue. Hong Kong authorities have proposed reducing the maximum number of prepaid SIM cards a user can register with one of the 29 telecommunications service providers in the city from 10 to just three, according to a paper submitted to the Legislative Council. This means each user can register up to 87 SIM cards based on a quota of three per person. 'The effect [of the piece of the proposed law] might be discounted,' lawmaker Ronick Chan Chun-ying said. He proposed further capping the maximum number of prepaid SIM cards per user. Lawmaker Peter Shiu Ka-fai considered the number of 87 'sizeable' and recommended registering with a limit of four telecommunications service providers, which would translate to 12 prepaid SIM cards per user. Lawmaker Doreen Kong Yuk-foon agreed with Shiu's suggestion and cited other jurisdictions having limits of eight, 10 and 12 while pointing out that Hongkongers should not be paying the price of scams for a free industry.


South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Could Elon Musk really move his tech empire to China?
Donald Trump's recent spats with Elon Musk – which included threats to deport the South African-born billionaire – have prompted speculation that he might move his business empire to China. That prompted Trump to write on social media earlier this month: 'Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE.' Musk's business empire has collected US$38 billion in government contracts, loans, subsidies and tax credits, according to The Washington Post. 'If tensions escalate between Musk and Trump – especially over issues such as regulation, subsidies, censorship or taxation – there is a possibility that Musk might move more R&D or manufacturing capabilities abroad,' said Denis Simon, a non-resident fellow at the US think tank the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. 'China, with its advanced supply chains and infrastructure, could become a favoured destination.