Taiwan has placed a focus on export control by including Chinese tech giants Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) on its list, aligning its trade policy more closely with the United States. This decision could have a marked impact on China’s aspirations in artificial intelligence chip development.
Highlights
Details of Taiwan’s Export Control Update
Confirmed by Taiwan’s International Trade Administration, the update to the “Strategic High-Tech Commodities Entity List” mandates that local companies now require government approval to export sensitive technologies, materials, or equipment to Huawei, SMIC, or their subsidiaries. According to Bloomberg, this export control may hinder China’s plans to develop advanced AI semiconductors, as both companies will lose access to essential technologies for plant construction and semiconductor equipment based in Taiwan.
Entities Affected by the Updated List
Published on Sunday, the updated list features entities previously linked to global security threats, including groups like the Taliban and al-Qaeda, along with firms from Iran and China, as reported by the Associated Press (AP).
The US Blacklist and TSMC’s Role
Both Huawei and SMIC are already blacklisted by the US government, facing extensive American restrictions on their access to advanced chips and manufacturing tools. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the largest chipmaker in Taiwan, has consistently adhered to US export regulations and has come under scrutiny regarding its previous interactions with Chinese firms.
Recent Controversy Involving TSMC
In October 2024, a controversy arose when TechInsights, a research firm, uncovered a TSMC-made chip within a Huawei AI training card. Following this revelation, reports indicated that the US Commerce Department instructed TSMC to terminate access for Chinese clients to AI-specific chips, according to Reuters. The company might also face a penalty of up to $1 billion due to an ongoing US investigation related to this incident.
Huawei’s Response to Export Controls
In light of the new export restrictions, Huawei has been seeking to develop domestic alternatives to Nvidia’s GPU offerings, with the goal of supplying AI chips within China. Nonetheless, experts suggest that the Chinese tech ecosystem continues to encounter challenges related to scale, technological maturity, and supply chain constraints stemming from ongoing export controls.
Geopolitical Context and Implications
Taiwan’s decision is occurring amid increasing geopolitical tensions with Beijing. While China considers the self-governing island a part of its territory, the US remains Taiwan’s main unofficial ally and arms supplier, adding complexity to the island’s strategic role in the global semiconductor supply chain.
The Central Role of TSMC in Global Semiconductor Supply
As the world’s leading contract chipmaker and a significant supplier to companies such as Nvidia, TSMC’s position is crucial. The recent update to Taiwan’s export controls underscores its alignment with US strategy during a period when chip technology plays a pivotal role in the overarching struggle between Washington and Beijing for technological supremacy.