Taiwan to probe firms over Huawei chip plants in China
Chinese tech giant.
Huawei, a leader in 5G telecom equipment, has been at the centre of the intensifying US-China rivalry over advanced tech in recent years.
The United States and its allies have curtailed its access to major markets and advanced tech — including chip making — over fears its products could allow China to spy on their networks.
Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua agreed on Wednesday — during questioning by lawmakers — to launch a probe into four tech firms that collaborated with Huawei on chip plants.
The four Taiwanese companies are helping Huawei develop an «under-the-radar network of chip plants» in China, Bloomberg reported this week.
The companies were identified by Bloomberg as Topco Scientific Co., L&K Engineering Co., United Integrated Services Co.
and Cica-Huntek Chemical Technology Taiwan.
Taiwan — which China claims as its territory — is a powerhouse for the design and production of semiconductors, the lifeblood of the modern global economy.
Despite growing Chinese diplomatic and military pressure on the island, Taiwan's tech industry has had to tread a careful line to avoid angering Beijing and any export control violations.
Wang told lawmakers that the four companies had helped Huawei with «wastewater and environmental protection equipment» for its factories, and not with sensitive technologies that could impact national security.
Since last year, the United States has introduced sweeping restrictions to cut off China's access to high-end semiconductors and chip-making equipment, citing national security concerns.
China has responded with similar curbs, including the introduction of a licence requirement to export the rare minerals vital in the production of
