Any program could be written as a set of instructions to be carried out by a person. A person who does not understand Chinese could carry out a computer program without thereby coming to understand Chinese. The functioning of a person carrying out a computer program is captured by that computer program. The syntax-semantics argument Syntax is not sufficient for semantics. Computer programs are entirely a matter of syntax.
Mental states have semantics.
So, the running of computer programs cannot produce mental states. The question here is how to defend Premise 1 as Searle understands it. That's what Searle needs his Chinese Room Argument for. Connectionist AI is OK Declarative-Digital v. Inputs take real numbered values, positive or negative.