Huawei is one of the Chinese companies hardest hit by US sanctions targeting the Chinese tech industry. The new phone is puzzling experts both inside and outside of China, and the discussions are hot whether China somehow got hold of American technology, or whether the Chinese chip industry has taken a very big step forward.
– The question is who made the chip, designed it, and what technology they used. As for that, I don’t have any answers either, I just know it’s definitely made in China. But what circumstances and with what technology – that’s a secret, says investment analyst Chen Qi.
According to American Bloomberg, the chip has been made on a machine from the Dutch ASML by the Chinese chip manufacturer SMIC.
“Convinced that China violated sanctions”
There is a kind of race going on between China and the US where China is trying to catch up with the US and gain access to equally advanced chips.
– It is central to all future technology such as AI, and to be able to develop tomorrow’s weapon systems. Then this is absolutely central and therefore it is kept very secret, says Tilde Lewin, SVT’s China correspondent.
But with the launch of the new phone comes accusations from the US that China has violated sanctions to manufacture such an advanced chip.
– Here, people are convinced that China has succeeded in this by breaking sanctions. Despite the lack of evidence, Republicans demand that the Department of Justice investigate company leaders in Huawei and the chip manufacturer SMIC, says Fouad Youcefi, SVT’s US correspondent.
With the rapid development of advanced chips, a discussion is being raised in the US regarding national security.
– They are afraid that the Chinese military will get access to the technology and be able to develop the use of AI in the military, says Fouad Youcefi.
Hear more about the technology inside the phone in the clip above.