Immediately after it was reported that TSMC's semiconductors were used in Huawei's AI chips, TSMC stopped shipping to the Chinese company SOPHGO, and it is possible that SOPHGO was acting as an intermediary to make semiconductors.
It has been revealed that Taiwan-based semiconductor manufacturer TSMC has stopped shipping products to China-based chip manufacturer
TSMC suspended shipments to China firm after chip found on Huawei processor, sources say | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/technology/tsmc-suspended-shipments-china-firm-after-chip-found-huawei-processor-sources-2024-10-26/
Statement by Xiamen SOPHGO Technologies Ltd.
https://en.sophgo.com/post/417.html
The United States recognizes China's AI development as a military threat and restricts domestic semiconductor companies from exporting high-performance semiconductors used in AI research and development. In addition, the United States is also asking foreign companies to prohibit the shipment of 'high-performance semiconductors manufactured using American semiconductor manufacturing equipment' to China.
Meanwhile, on October 22, 2024, it was reported that TSMC semiconductors were used in AI chips sold by the Chinese company Huawei. Since TSMC manufactures high-performance semiconductors using American-made semiconductor manufacturing equipment, it has been pointed out that TSMC may be violating US export controls.
It turns out that TSMC was manufacturing Huawei's AI chips, which may violate US export controls - GIGAZINE
At the time of the report on October 22, 2024, it was unclear how TSMC semiconductors ended up in Huawei's possession, but on October 28, 2024, Reuters reported that 'TSMC semiconductors used in Huawei's AI chips had been ordered from TSMC by the Chinese company SOPHGO.' Reuters also reported that TSMC immediately stopped shipping products to SOPHGO.
SOPHGO is a chip design company with bases in more than 10 cities in China, including Beijing and Shenzhen, as well as in the United States and Singapore. SOPHGO's founder, Micree Zhan, is also known as the founder of BITMAIN, which develops cryptocurrency mining hardware. BITMAIN has bases in various countries around the world, including Hong Kong, the United States, and Singapore, and in 2021 it was revealed that BITMAIN's Taiwanese operator had illegally employed Taiwanese semiconductor researchers to engage in research activities.
In response to the reports, SOPHGO issued a statement saying, 'We are not involved in any way in the U.S. Department of Commerce investigation into ties between TSMC and Huawei' and 'we have provided detailed evidence to TSMC demonstrating that we have no affiliation with Huawei.'
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