Growth of Huawei Phone and AMEC Show Spectacular Failure of Technology Blockade Against China

Sept. 2, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)—A few years ago, the U.S. declared that 5G cellular communication chips could not be provided to Huawei, supposedly for national security reasons. But Huawei has just released its latest offering, the Mate 60 Pro, which includes satellite communication, a beautiful display with adaptive refresh rate, and, most importantly, excellent network speed, with users showing speed tests that exceed those of 5G phones available using other technologies. The phone was released on the last day of U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s Aug. 27-30 trip to China.

So much for the technology blockade on China, which had only a very temporary negative effect, and caused long-term harm to high-technology companies looking to export their advanced products to the world’s largest economy, as measured in PPP terms. While China has been willing to engage economically with “Western” technology companies, the nation has shown that it does not depend on them, and that sanctions and technology blockades are both ineffective and destructive.

It’s not only in full products like mobile phones that China is managing on its own. The technologies required to make the final products are themselves being developed domestically. South China Morning Post reports that “China’s etching equipment giant, Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment (AMEC), has reported hefty growth ... thanks to strong demand for local tool as a result of U.S. tech export controls.” The article explains: “As China deepens its semiconductor self-sufficiency drive to include chip-making equipment and key components,” AMEC founder and CEO Yin Zhiyao said “that 80% of restricted imported parts at AMEC can be replaced domestically by the end of this year, with 100% replacement following in the second half next year.”