US lawmakers urge Biden administration to block Huawei’s access to US chipmaking equipment

American legislators They are stepping up pressure on US President Joe Biden’s administration to restrict suppliers from selling US products. chip manufacturing equipment to Huawei Technologies Co.a measure aimed at hindering the progress of the Chinese telecommunications giant sanctioned in semiconductor manufacturing.

In a letter sent to US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Wednesday, leaders of the US House China Select Committee expressed concern about Huawei’s access to critical technology, reported Taipei Times (CNA).

The letter highlights several chinese companiesincluding Shenzhen Pengxinxu Technology Co, Shenzhen SwaySure Technology Co and Qingdao Sien Technology Co, as potential members of Huawei’s “underground network.”

The United States and its allies have collectively restricted the sale of the most advanced chips and manufacturing tools to China, targeting companies such as Applied Materials Inc, Lam Research Corp and KLA Corp of the United States, as well as ASML Holding NV of the Netherlands and Tokyo. Electron Ltd of Japan.

Additionally, Washington has implemented additional sanctions against several Chinese companies, including Huawei and its partner Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, which prevent them from acquiring US technology without obtaining a license from the US government, Taipei Times reported.

While Chinese companies not included on the “entity list” can still access relatively mature chip equipment without needing U.S. approval, lawmakers argue that more action needs to be taken.

“We must continue our efforts to deny Huawei and similar companies the ability to access American technology,” wrote committee chair John Moolenaar and ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi. They warned that failure to act would disproportionately benefit a select group of American chips. manufacturers while negatively impacting global chipmakers who are unable to sell their products, ultimately undermining the intent behind Huawei’s listing and posing a risk to national security.

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a news conference in Beijing that China opposes “the United States overextending the concept of national security, setting up barriers and undermining normal cooperation between the two.” countries,” Taipei Times reported.

The overall goal of the US-led initiative is to prevent China from establishing a next-generation semiconductor industry, which could improve its military capabilities.