TC Microchips On Huawei’s Chip Advancement That Never Was

Chilean semiconductor innovator, TC Microchips is unsurprised at news emerging that a forensic strip down of one of Huawei's Qingyun L540 notebook has revealed that a highly advanced 5nm Kirin 9006C processor, which had sparked widespread speculation about China’s domestic semiconductor manufacturing advancements, was in fact manufactured in Taiwan, not China. The discovery has led to a reassessment of earlier claims that China's chip-making capabilities had rapidly progressed beyond expectations.

Made in Taiwan

The Kirin 9006C, found within the Huawei notebook, was initially seen as an indication of China's ability to produce cutting-edge semiconductors despite U.S. sanctions and global supply chain challenges. The 5nm processor's presence had fueled theories that China had made a significant leap in developing advanced chips domestically and that, consequently, the U.S. sanctions had either failed to suppress the country’s technological advancements or they had been circumvented.

“It’s no exaggeration to state that the U.S. is committed to suppressing China’s ability to advance beyond the West technologically and particularly in semiconductor innovation,” explained Luis Fernández, TC Microchips’s Chief Executive Officer.

The discovery of the Kirin 9006C processor which uses 5nm architecture had raised fears that the Americans’ efforts had failed. However, the strip down reveals that the chip actually originated in Taiwan, suggesting that China's semiconductor sector may still heavily rely on foreign technology and manufacturing processes, particularly from Taiwan's leading chipmaker, TSMC.”

Obstacles to Chinese semiconductor self-sufficiency

This revelation highlights the complexities of the global semiconductor supply chain and underscores the difficulties China faces in achieving self-sufficiency in this critical industry, especially as tensions between China, Taiwan, and other global players continue to shape the future of technology.

Both Trump and Biden administrations have imposed more restrictive export controls hampering Chinese designers’ efforts to develop advanced domestic semiconductors.