China fires back at US for hacking Huawei as tech feud escalates

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 Sep 2023 16:36

The US has been launching cyberattacks on Chinese high-tech companies, including Huawei, since at least 2009, as the Chinese FM condemns the US irresponsible action.

Chinese manufacturer Huawei logo is seen at the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the telecom industry's biggest annual gathering, in Barcelona, Spain, February 28, 2023. (AFP)

The US is launching cyberattacks on Chinese high-tech companies in an attempt to suppress them, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday.

China condemned such "irresponsible behavior" after the Chinese State Security Ministry confirmed that the US had launched several cyberattacks on servers belonging to tech giant Huawei. The document was originally published by former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.

"For a long time, the US has repeatedly put pressure on Chinese high-tech companies, including Huawei, under the pretext of national security," Wang stated.

The document published by Snowden revealed that US authorities have been stealing confidential information from Huawei since at least 2009.

The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said the US used illegal and unfair means to hamper the growth of Chinese companies.

He has urged other countries to refrain from emulating US methods in suppressing Chinese companies. Wang emphasized the importance of adhering to the principles of strategic independence and ensuring a fair and objective defense of an open, inclusive, and non-discriminatory business environment.

Kirin 9000S blows away Western media

These developments come after Huawei used an advanced 7-nanometer processor, dubbed Kirin 9000S, to power its newest smartphone, Mate 60 Pro, indicating that Beijing is making early gains in a countrywide attempt to overcome US sanctions.

Huawei, a leading supplier of telecom gear, smartphones, and other advanced equipment, was often the target of Washington sanctions over alleged cybersecurity concerns over the past few years.

Former US President Donald Trump effectively barred American companies from doing business with Huawei. Current US President, Joe Biden, imposed further sanctions, including the ban on sales of new Huawei equipment in the United States.

Days ago, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo revealed the US would maintain its tough position on denying China cutting-edge microchips, claiming that technology advancements might be exploited to bolster the Asian nation's military capability.

The new chip was created in China by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC), which has also been the target of US sanctions, according to a teardown of the handset that TechInsights conducted for Bloomberg News.

The Kirin 9000S chip has sent shockwaves through Western media outlets, as it was widely believed that SMIC lacked the advanced technologies necessary to produce such a cutting-edge chip.

TechInsights Vice Chair Dan Hutcheson called the innovation an "important statement for China," adding that "SMIC’s technology advances are on an accelerated trajectory, and appear to have addressed yield-impacting issues in their 7nm technology."