08/17/2020 - 18:00
- Clarín.com
- World
The United States increased pressure against Huawei on Monday by adopting a series of measures to limit the Chinese company's access to microprocessors produced by other companies and included 38 affiliates of the telecommunications manufacturer to the list of entities that may pose a threat to the American national security.
Commerce Department officials explained during a conference call with the media that the announced measures effectively restrict Huawei's access to chips produced by other companies with US software or hardware.
"These actions, which are effective immediately, prevent Huawei from attempting to circumvent US export controls to obtain electronic components developed or produced using US technology," the Commerce Department said.
In May this year, Washington already limited Huawei's acquisition of semiconductors that were produced directly with US software and technology.
But US authorities noted that the Chinese company has been working with third parties to take advantage of US technology and undermine national security.
The Chinese PC in the crosshairs
US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement that "Huawei and its foreign affiliates have increased their efforts to source advanced semiconductors developed or produced with US software and technology to meet the objectives of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). ".
"This multi-pronged action demonstrates our continued commitment to hamper Huawei's ability" to harm the security and foreign policy interests of the United States, Ross added.
For his part, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo indicated that Huawei "is an arm of the surveillance state of the Chinese Communist Party" and that the measures protect "the national security of the United States, the privacy of our citizens and the integrity of our 5G infrastructure from the malicious influence of Beijing. "
"We will not tolerate the PCC's attempts to undermine the privacy of citizens, the intellectual property of our businesses, or the integrity of next-generation networks around the world," Pompeo added.
A senior Commerce Department official noted that Washington's actions are also intended to show US allies "how seriously we take the problem that Huawei represents" and the interest in other countries following the US example. .
Huawei has repeatedly denied allegations that it could facilitate Chinese espionage. Chinese officials have accused Washington of using national security as an excuse to slow down a competitor to US tech industries.
Huawei is in the midst of tensions between the United States and China over technology and security. The confrontation has already reached the popular Chinese-owned video app TikTok and the Chinese- based messaging service WeChat, both threatened to be banned in the United States from September.
Source: EFE and AP
PB