US Lawmakers Call for Action Against Huawei’s Secret Chip Factories
In Washington DC, Chairman John Moolenaar and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (SCCCP) have urged U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to act against Huawei’s rapid development of semiconductor facilities. They are concerned that Huawei is hiding its involvement to bypass American restrictions.
The lawmakers highlighted that these facilities rely on U.S.-made semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME), offering the U.S. a chance to block Huawei’s plans, which they believe threaten national security. Secretary Raimondo had previously expressed alarm over Huawei’s chip-making capabilities, calling the use of U.S. SME by Huawei “deeply disturbing.” Earlier, the Commerce Department revoked licenses for U.S. companies to ship chips to Huawei’s smartphone division.
The lawmakers stressed the importance of stopping Huawei from getting U.S. chips and SMEs to prevent it from making its own chips. They believe restricting SME access to Huawei’s secret network of semiconductor companies would reinforce U.S. export control policies. They warned that inaction would benefit a few American companies but harm global chipmakers and U.S. security.
The letter mentioned firms linked to Huawei’s secret chip network, like Pengxinxu, SwaySure Technology, and Qingdao SiEn, which are not on the Commerce Department’s Entity List. These firms are closely tied to Huawei and are part of Shenzhen’s efforts to boost semiconductor capabilities. The lawmakers urged Secretary Raimondo to act quickly to stop Huawei from accessing U.S. technology that could threaten national security. They praised the Commerce Department’s work with allies but worried that delays might let Huawei stockpile SME. They concluded by appreciating the Commerce Department’s actions and looked forward to future steps.
Doubts Revealed
Huawei -: Huawei is a big technology company from China. They make things like phones and other electronic devices. Some people are worried about how they use technology.
Semiconductor -: Semiconductors are tiny parts used in electronic devices like phones and computers. They help these devices work by controlling electricity.
SCCCP -: SCCCP stands for the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. It’s a group of U.S. lawmakers who focus on issues related to China.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce -: The U.S. Secretary of Commerce is a person in charge of trade and business in the United States. They help make rules about how companies can buy and sell things.
National security threat -: A national security threat is something that could harm a country’s safety. It means there might be danger to the people or important things in the country.
SMEs -: SMEs stands for Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment. These are machines used to make semiconductors, which are important for making electronic devices.
