The U.S.-China battle over chips has expanded to include RISC-V, a U.S.-born chip technology that has become crucial for China's ambitions. As China increasingly relies on RISC-V for various applications like AI and data encryption, the U.S. is grappling with the implications of limiting the technology's access to China. This has sparked a debate in Washington about potential restrictions, with concerns raised about China's use of RISC-V in semiconductor design. While some U.S. officials and companies have lobbied for restrictions, RISC-V advocates argue that the technology's open nature enhances its security and that imposing limitations would diminish U.S. influence without significantly impeding China. The technology, developed from open-source software, presents a complex challenge in terms of export controls, given its widespread international adoption and the nature of its underlying instructions. As the debate continues, RISC-V's role in the U.S.-China semiconductor trade war remains a contentious issue with far-reaching implications.