Tech Giant Huawei had already been in the government’s eye after it was accused of being used by the Chinese government to spy on the US. After these accusations, Huawei was banned from working with any American company. This lead to breaking ties with Google and the reason why Huawei phones don’t carry the Android Play Store. In a recent announcement, the US blocks tech giant Huawei from using American suppliers and manufacturers by promising not to renew export licenses of companies still exporting parts to China. But what does this mean for the tech giant and its customers?
Chinese Tech Giant Huawei
Huawei is a Chinese tech giant and one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies. It was founded in 1987 by Ren Zhengfei, who was a former engineer at the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). In 1994, Huawei became an independent company with its headquarters based in Xizhi District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province. It is one of the largest manufacturers of smartphones in the world with many still purchasing their products outside of the United States.
Chinese Government Accused of Spying on the US
The Chinese government has been accused of using its hardware and software to infiltrate US networks, including those used by government agencies. Huawei was banned by the United States in 2012 because it violated US sanctions against Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
In 2012, Huawei was banned by the US for violating sanctions against Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The company was banned because it’s owned by the Chinese government, which is considered a national security threat to America.
The ban put in place prevents American suppliers from using Huawei equipment or systems that contain components from the China-based tech giant. The fear is that by using Huawei technology and systems, they are effectively giving China back-door access to sensitive information that the Chinese government should not be privy to.
The US wants to prevent Huawei from being used by American suppliers or manufacturers.
The US has banned Huawei from using American suppliers or manufacturers, and it wants to make sure that no other companies do so either. The ban is a response to concerns about the Chinese government’s ties with Huawei. The US government believes that Huawei could use its access to US networks and resources for espionage purposes, which would put all users at risk of hacking attacks by foreign governments or criminals.
Despite this ban, however, companies have continued to ship components and parts produced in the US to the tech giant in China. The Biden administration has stepped up its efforts to deny China and Huawei any sort of leeway. They have mandated that any supplier that has been exporting to Huawei will stop approving those companies’ export licenses. This could mean big trouble for these manufacturers where they rely heavily on trade and purchases outside the United States. Companies such as Intel and Qualcomm will be affected as well as they traditionally provide the chips for many of Huawei’s technology.
China’s Response
On Tuesday, as the United States started to increase pressure on tech giant Huawei by denying access to American suppliers, China’s leadership accused Washington of attempting “technology hegemony.”
This comes after the Trump administration had already accused Huawei of spying on the US government for China. This has increased tensions between the two big superpowers which have been boiling over the past several years.
China is deeply concerned by the reports, according to Mao Ning, a spokesman for the foreign ministry. In order to stifle Chinese rivals, she charged that Washington had “over-stretching the concept of national security and abusing state power.” Such actions constitute “blatant technological hegemony” and “contrary to the principles of market economy,” according to Mao.
The White House and the Department of Commerce declined to comment on particular Huawei-related discussions.
Conclusion
While the US and China have made some progress in their relationship, they still have a long way to go. As we’ve seen throughout history, it is not easy for governments to overcome their differences and work together as one country. The current tensions between the US and China should be taken seriously by everyone involved because they could lead to another war such as World War I (1914-1918).