The US prohibits two firms from selling sophisticated chips to China in the latest move of intensifying containment of China s high-tech sector including artificial intelligence (AI) and supercomputing. The US may further escalate crackdown on China s key chip links by restricting US firms business and sales of more key chipmaking equipment and materials, but industry insiders are optimistic about the prospect of China breaking US stranglehold given achievements already made in aspects like chipmaking tools.