The chip powering the Mate 60 Pro phone of sanctioned Chinese company Huawei is not as advanced as American chips, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on Sunday, arguing that it shows US curbs on shipments to the telecoms equipment giant are working.
In August last year, Huawei caught everyone off guard by launching the Huawei Mate 60 Pro, a new phone equipped with a cutting-edge chip. This move was seen as a sign of China's tech advancement, despite the US government's attempts to limit Huawei's access to advanced semiconductor technology.
Raimondo, who was in China at the time of the chip's release, viewed it as a sign that export controls are effective.
In an interview with CBS News' "60 Minutes," she emphasised that the chip is not as advanced as those in the United States, stating, "We have the most sophisticated semiconductors in the world. China doesn't."
Washington has been engaged in a prolonged endeavour to restrict Beijing's access to cutting-edge semiconductor chips and the necessary equipment for their production, citing fears that they could potentially enhance China's military prowess.
In 2019, Huawei, which has become emblematic of the ongoing tech war, was included in the entity list due to concerns that it might engage in surveillance activities on American citizens. Consequently, its US suppliers were compelled to obtain a challenging license to continue shipping to the company.
Huawei's recent announcement of its inaugural AI-enabled laptop, featuring an Intel chip, has sparked outrage among staunch Republican critics in China. Meanwhile, the company's suppliers, such as Intel have been granted licenses totaling billions of dollars to continue their sales to Huawei.
Raimondo's response was resolute when questioned about her firmness towards large corporations.
During her interview on "60 Minutes" with Lesley Stahl, she stressed her commitment to holding businesses accountable. She mentioned that although businesses may not appreciate her decision to restrict their semiconductor sales to China, she firmly stands by it.
The Biden administration initiated a review of the Huawei phone to gain insights into the chip that drives its functionality, which happens to be the most cutting-edge semiconductor ever manufactured by China. However, there is a lack of information regarding the specifics of this review.
