ARM’s “ARM China” problem has just gotten much worse

ARM’s China problem has just taken a major turn for the worse, with Chinese Media reporting on Amou Technology (translation) and their plans to “promote the localization and ecological development of Arm CPU architecture” and “focus on independent research and development to create XPU products with independent architecture”. 

The problem with Amou Technology is that it is ARM China, ARM’s rogue Chinese joint venture under Allen Wu. ARM China has rebranded itself under its rogue leader and intends to operate independently of ARM and create its own IP and products. 

ARM has previously tried to oust Allen Wu from his position as CEO, but these attempts have failed so far. ARM has already cut off ARM China from its latest IP, but that’s not stopping ARM China from creating its own China-focused future. ARM is currently unable to evert any control over its Chinese joint venture, and ARM employees have been forcefully blocked from entering ARM China. Now, ARM China is Amou Technologies, and this shift will re-write ARM’s future. 

We have previously talked about ARM’s issues in China regarding their planned acquisition by Nvidia (more information here), but this move from Allen Wu/ARM China places ARM in an unprecedented situation. ARM has effectively lost control of its IP, and ARM’s IP is currently set to be utilised to suit Chinese interests, not ARM’s. 

ARM China now serves Chinese interests

ARM China, now Amou Technologies, has started creating their own IP, independent of ARM. Amou Technologies is now using ARM’s IP as a baseline to create new semiconductor IP that will be used to benefit the Chinese market. As one Chinese source puts it, “On the one hand, it acts as an agent for Arm’s CPU IP, on the other hand. Insist on local self-research and launch self-developed core power XPU architecture IP (machine translated).”

Given the nature of ARM China’s, now Amou Technology’s, leadership and their apparent lack of official authorisation from ARM, it is hard to see its actions as legitimate. ARM China appears to have gone rogue, and it apparently now serves China’s interests. This effectively curbs all attempts to block new ARM IP being given to Chinese companies like Huawei, as ARM China/Amou Technologies’ new IP will be made in China.

Below is what ARM China’s website currently has listed as part of its company profile (machine translated). Their plans are clear.