The US government official suspects that HUAWEI may be deceiving about the size of the chip used in the Mate 60 Pro.
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The HUAWEI Mate 60 Pro contains a 5G chipset, which appears to defy the existing sanctions against the company.
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A government representative recently stated that there is no proof that HUAWEI is capable of increasing production of this chip.
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Certain US Republicans believe that the nation should cease all exports of technology to HUAWEI.
A couple of weeks back, HUAWEI caused a stir with the release of their latest flagship phone, the Mate 60 Pro (and later on, the Mate 60 Pro Plus). While the introduction of a new top-of-the-line Android phone was expected, the surprise came from its chipset. The Kirin chip, with 5G capability and built on a 7nm scale, was developed by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), a Chinese company.
Despite the HUAWEI ban, the company has managed to achieve something that was thought to be impossible. It was believed that the ban would prevent HUAWEI from obtaining the necessary technology to create such a chip. This suggests that either the company has made a groundbreaking advancement in chipset design or has disregarded international trade restrictions.
Today, Reuters reported that the US government believes HUAWEI may be exaggerating its capabilities. According to US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, there is no evidence that HUAWEI can mass produce seven-nanometer technology.
Put simply, even if HUAWEI has made a technological advancement by developing a novel method for creating 5G-ready 7nm chips, the US doubts the company’s ability to mass produce them on a significant scale.
The Commerce Department recently announced its investigation into the new chip. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan also highlighted the country’s focus on the issue.
Is there evidence to support the need for more bans on the HUAWEI Mate 60 Pro?
Some Republicans who disagree with how the Biden administration is handling HUAWEI and China pointed out that Gina Raimondo was in China when the HUAWEI Mate 60 Pro was released. Republican Representative Darrell Issa stated that Raimondo was taken by surprise by the unexpected launch of a phone that should not have been produced.
Many Republicans in Washington believe that the US should cease all technology exports to both HUAWEI and SMIC in light of this development.
