Foreign media reports allege that Huawei has been procuring 7-nanometer chips from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) through a proxy, Shineray Technology, in an effort to circumvent U.S. restrictions.

In response, TSMC affirmed its commitment to strict adherence of all applicable laws and regulations, stating it had proactively communicated with the U.S. Commerce Department regarding any potentially suspicious activities.

According to these reports, Huawei’s Ascend 910B and Ascend 910C processors were manufactured using a process from TSMC, facilitated by Shineray Technology. TSMC has consistently maintained its commitment to compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including export control rules; shipments to Huawei ceased in mid-September of 2020.

Should any suspicious activities be identified, TSMC takes prompt action to ensure legal compliance through due diligence procedures and proactive communication with clients and regulatory bodies. Reuters previously reported that the production of Ascend 910B chips using TSMC’s process could lead to potential fines for the company from U.S. authorities—estimated at up to $1 billion—though no official announcement regarding this penalty has been made by any U.S. agency.

(Contributor: Chang Jiansheng; Image Source: Huawei)