15.06.2025 12:12
Taiwan has significantly tightened its export controls on advanced semiconductor technologies, adding Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), along with several subsidiaries, to its Strategic High-Tech Commodities Entity List. This decisive action, announced by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, mandates that Taiwanese companies secure government approval before exporting any relevant products to these Chinese tech giants. The move reflects escalating tensions in the global tech landscape and aligns with broader US-led efforts to curb China's technological advancements.
Neither Huawei nor SMIC have yet publicly commented on this significant development, which effectively restricts their access to cutting-edge Taiwanese semiconductor technologies. This restriction severely hampers their ability to compete directly with leading US chip manufacturers like Nvidia, further exacerbating existing challenges for both companies. The new regulations are intended to close existing loopholes and minimize collaboration between Taiwanese and Chinese firms, thereby strengthening existing US export bans targeting mainland Chinese tech leaders.
This strategic move by Taiwan is deeply rooted in the complex geopolitical situation surrounding the island nation. China's claim of sovereignty over Taiwan, coupled with its threats of military action to achieve unification, forms a critical backdrop. While most countries, including the United States, do not officially recognize Taiwan's independence, they strongly oppose any forceful annexation and actively support Taiwan's self-defense capabilities. Therefore, Taiwan’s actions are viewed as a crucial element in this ongoing geopolitical struggle.
The timing of Taiwan's announcement is particularly noteworthy. Huawei's recent success with its domestically developed 7-nanometer chip in the Mate 60 smartphone line fueled concerns in Washington about the efficacy of existing sanctions and highlighted China's progress towards semiconductor self-sufficiency. This development, along with ongoing US pressure on Taiwan and its major chip manufacturers, such as TSMC, to limit advanced technology exports to mainland China, has undoubtedly contributed to Taiwan’s strengthened regulatory stance. The significance of semiconductors in Bitcoin mining, where they are integral to the computational process, is also noteworthy, although further details on this aspect are not included in the original source.
