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☆ Former U.S. official's work for Chinese client stirs concern over disclosure loopholes
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Advocating for foreign clients is legal and U.S. law includes a public disclosure exemption for lawyers. The Paul, Weiss law firm declined to comment on the letter, and Lynch did not respond to Reuters emails. The U.S. Treasury and Commerce departments say DJI supported biometric surveillance and tracking of Muslim Uyghur minorities in China. "It is appalling that former senior U.S. officials use their connections to serve the interests of U.S. adversaries," Risch said. Others argue that stricter FARA rules on disclosure could give authoritarian countries like Russia and China cover for their own stifling of free speech.

Persons: Loretta Lynch, Obama, Lynch, Paul, Weiss, DJI, FARA, Jim Risch, Risch, Jonathan Turley, Turley Organizations: U.S, senior Defense Department, SZ DJI Technology Co, U.S . Department of Justice, Reuters, Department of Defense, China's Communist Party, U.S . Treasury, Commerce, The Defense Department, Pentagon, Justice, Republican, Senate Foreign Relations, American Civil Liberties Union, Justice Department, George Washington University Locations: FARA, U.S, China, WuXi, Russia

☆ Exclusive: Huawei unit ships Chinese-made surveillance chips in fresh comeback sign -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Hauwei also unveiled new smartphones in recent weeks that use advanced chips, which analysts say are domestically made. "These surveillance chips are relatively easy to manufacture compared to smartphone processors," said the source familiar with the surveillance camera industry's supply chain, adding that HiSilicon's return would shake up the market. A key factor is that the company appears to have worked around U.S. restrictions on chip design software. Huawei has not commented on the phone's 5G capabilities or how it produced the advanced chip. The United States has no evidence that Huawei can produce smartphones with advanced chips in large volumes, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on Tuesday.

Persons: Hauwei, Frost, Sullivan, HiSilicon, Taiwan's TSMC, Gina Raimondo, Dan Hutcheson, Shanghai Newsrooms, Fanny Potkin, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Huawei Technologies, Huawei, Securities, Novatek Microelectronics Corp, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, HK, Kirin, United, . Commerce, Cadence Design Systems, Synopsys Inc, Siemens, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, SHANGHAI, U.S, Kirin, China, United States, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore

☆ Exclusive: Huawei unit ships Chinese-made surveillance chips in fresh comeback sign
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Huawei also unveiled new smartphones in recent weeks that use advanced chips, which analysts say are domestically made. "These surveillance chips are relatively easy to manufacture compared to smartphone processors," said the source familiar with the surveillance camera industry's supply chain, adding that HiSilicon's return would shake up the market. A key factor is that the company appears to have worked around U.S. restrictions on chip design software. HiSilicon mainly supplies chips for Huawei equipment but has had external customers such as Dahua Technology (002236.SZ) and Hikvision (002415.SZ). The United States has no evidence that Huawei can produce smartphones with advanced chips in large volumes, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on Tuesday.

Persons: Florence, Frost, Sullivan, HiSilicon, Taiwan's TSMC, Gina Raimondo, Dan Hutcheson, Shanghai Newsrooms, Fanny Potkin, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Security China, REUTERS, Rights, Huawei Technologies, Huawei, Securities, Novatek Microelectronics Corp, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, HK, Kirin, United, . Commerce, Cadence Design Systems, Synopsys Inc, Siemens, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, SHANGHAI, U.S, Kirin, United States, Shanghai, Singapore

☆ US FCC chair says China's Quectel, Fibocom may pose national security risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Jonathan Newton/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel asked U.S. government agencies to consider declaring that Chinese companies including Quectel (603236.SS) and Fibocom Wireless (300638.SZ) pose unacceptable national security risks, according to letters seen by Reuters. Federal funds cannot be used to purchase equipment from companies on the list, and the FCC will not authorize new equipment from companies deemed national security threats. Rosenworcel wrote the FBI, the Justice Department, the National Security Agency, the Defense Department and other agencies on Sept. 1, forwarding the request from the lawmakers. She added the FCC can update the Covered List "only at the direction of national security authorities." Last year the FCC voted to revoke China Unicom’s U.S. unit, Pacific Networks and ComNet’s authorization to operate in the United States, citing national security concerns.

Persons: Jessica Rosenworcel, Jonathan Newton, Mike Gallagher, Krishnamoorthi, Rosenworcel, David Shepardson, Jonathan Oatis, David Gregorio Our Organizations: U.S . Senate Commerce, Science, Transportation Committee, Federal Communications Commission, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Federal Communications, U.S, Fibocom Wireless, Reuters, Republican, China, FCC, FBI, Justice Department, National Security Agency, Defense Department, Huawei, ZTE, Hytera Communications Corp, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, Zhejiang Dahua Technology, Pacific Networks, Embassy, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Quectel, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, U.S, United States, Washington

☆ Two US lawmakers raise security concerns about Chinese cellular modules
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jonathan Newton/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Two U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to address questions about potential security concerns involving cellular modules made by Chinese companies including Quectel (603236.SS) and Fibocom Wireless (300638.SZ). Cellular modules are components that enable internet of things (IoT) devices to connect to the internet. The lawmakers asked if the FCC is considering using the Covered List to address Chinese-owned cellular modules. "Could requiring certification for modules used in communications equipment be an effective means" of addressing Chinese modules in U.S. networks? In 2022, the Chinese Embassy in Washington said the FCC "abused state power and maliciously attacked Chinese telecom operators again without factual basis."

Persons: Jessica Rosenworcel, Jonathan Newton, Mike Gallagher, Raja Krishnamoorthi, David Shepardson, Mark Porter, Leslie Adler Organizations: U.S . Senate Commerce, Science, Transportation, Federal Communications Commission, Tuesday, Fibocom Wireless, Republican, China, FCC, Pacific Networks Corp, HK, Huawei Technologies, ZTE Corp, Hytera Communications Corp, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, Zhejiang Dahua Technology, Embassy, Huawei, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Quectel, China, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Washington

SHANGHAI, June 29 (Reuters) - Geopolitics and the national security concerns of some countries are threatening the globalisation of the world’s chip industry and its future growth, the chairman and acting CEO of memory chipmaker Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) said on Thursday. "Our industry itself is cyclical, and each practitioner has his own way of dealing with the cycle. The move barred YMTC's suppliers from shipping U.S. goods to it without a difficult-to-obtain licence. Chen hinted at YMTC's own troubles during his speech, with a direct appeal to equipment suppliers in attendance. "For YMTC that I manage, we can no longer procure parts and components for equipment we had legally bought.

Persons: Chen Nanxiang, Taiwan's TSMC, Morris Chang, Chen, Casey Hall, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Christina Fincher Organizations: Technologies, Huawei Technologies Co, Shanghai Newsroom, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China, Shanghai, United States, Washington

☆ UK to remove Chinese-made surveillance equipment from sensitive government sites
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 7 (Reuters) - Britain has committed to the removal of Chinese-made surveillance equipment from sensitive government sites as part of its latest plans to address national security concerns related to China. Under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has cast China as the world's greatest challenge to security and prosperity, the government told its departments last year to stop installing Chinese-linked surveillance cameras at sensitive buildings. In an announcement setting out a proposed tightening of procurement rules, the government said:"We will also commit to publish a timeline for the removal of surveillance equipment produced by companies subject to China’s National Intelligence Law from sensitive central government sites. Beijing has said it "firmly opposes" overstretching the concept of national security to suppress Chinese enterprises. Some U.S. states have banned vendors and products from several Chinese technology companies.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Hikvision, Muvija Organizations: China’s National Intelligence, Government, Huawei, Thomson Locations: Britain, China, Beijing, U.S

☆ A less obvious area in A.I. could be an $11 billion opportunity, Bernstein says — and names 4 stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Goldman Sachs estimates that generative AI in particular will drive almost $7 trillion in global economic growth over the next decade, with a total addressable market (TAM) of $150 billion. Nvidia is another top pick on Wall Street, with the chipmaker seen as the "grand marshal" of the AI parade . Bernstein, for one, said it believes the world is witnessing an "exciting inflection" of AI adoption in manufacturing. Stock picks In a note on March 28, Bernstein analyst Jay Huang named a raft of stock picks with "outperform" ratings to ride the AI opportunity in manufacturing, including Japanese electronics firm Keyence . The bank identified three areas in which AI is utilized in in the manufacturing process: industrial machine vision, robot guiding and industrial software.

☆ US puts trade curbs on 5 Chinese firms over alleged role in Uyghur repression
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 28 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Tuesday imposed new trade restrictions on five Chinese companies for allegedly aiding in the repression of the Uyghur Muslim minority but China rejected the accusation as "lies" aimed at constraining it. According to Hikvision's 2021 half-year report, at least four of the companies facing new curbs belong to the Chinese surveillance camera maker including Luopu Haishi Dingxin Electronic Technology Co, Moyu Haishi Electronic Technology Co, Pishan Haishi Yong'an Electronic Technology Co and Urumqi Haishi Xin'an Electronic Technology Co.Yutian Haishi Meitian Electronic Technology Co Ltd was also added. "The idea that there exists so-called repression of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang has long been debunked," Mao said at a regular briefing on Wednesday. She also said that China would take all necessary measures to defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese firms. The United States has increasingly used the list to target Chinese firms.

☆ US slaps trade curbs on 5 Chinese firms over alleged role in Uyghur repression
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, March 28 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Tuesday imposed new trade restrictions on five Chinese companies for allegedly aiding in Beijing's repression of the Uyghur Muslim minority group. According to Hikvision's 2021 half-year report, at least four of the companies facing new curbs belong to the Chinese surveillance camera maker including Luopu Haishi Dingxin Electronic Technology Co, Moyu Haishi Electronic Technology Co, Pishan Haishi Yong'an Electronic Technology Co and Urumqi Haishi Xin'an Electronic Technology Co.Yutian Haishi Meitian Electronic Technology Co Ltd was also added. Being added to the entity list means U.S. suppliers must get a special and difficult-to-obtain license before shipping goods to the targeted companies. Washington has increasingly used the entity list to target Chinese firms. Reporting by Alexandra Alper, David Shepardson, and Karen Freifeld; Editing by Franklin Paul and Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

"Pre-installed apps can be a weak security point and we want to ensure no foreign nations, including China, are exploiting it. India has ramped up scrutiny of Chinese businesses since a 2020 border clash between the neighbours, banning more than 300 Chinese apps, including TikTok. Currently, most smartphones come with pre-installed apps that cannot be deleted, such as Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi's app store GetApps, Samsung's payment app Samsung Pay mini and iPhone maker Apple's browser Safari. While European Union regulations require allowing removal of pre-installed apps, it does not have a screening mechanism to check for compliance like India is considering. An industry executive said some pre-installed apps like the camera are critical to user experience and the government must make a distinction between these and non-essential ones when imposing screening rules.

☆ Xi Jinping wants China's army to work closely with the country's tech giants, further blurring the lines between the military and civilian sectors
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Chinese leader Xi Jinping wants China's army to work more closely with local tech giants. Chinese tech firms are already facing intense scrutiny in the US over their ties to the CCP. "To consolidate and improve the integrated national strategic system and capabilities, the key is to work hard on integration to maximize national strategic capabilities," he said. Chinese tech companies are already under intense scrutiny in the USXi's emphasis on forging closer ties between the Chinese military and civilian tech companies comes amid intense scrutiny from the US government on how Chinese tech giants are using the data they harvest. Huawei, Hikvision, and Dahua are among the Chinese tech firms blacklisted by the US.

☆ Australia orders review into Chinese-made cameras in defence offices
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationSYDNEY, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The Australian government will examine surveillance technology used in offices of the defence department, Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Thursday, amid reports the Chinese-made cameras installed there raised security risks. The move comes after Britain in November asked its departments to stop installing Chinese-linked surveillance cameras at sensitive buildings. Some U.S. states have banned vendors and products from several Chinese technology companies. Australian media reported on Wednesday that the national war memorial in Canberra would remove several Chinese-made security cameras installed on the premises over concerns of spying. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was not concerned about how Beijing might react to the removal of cameras.

Sydney/Hong Kong CNN —Australia’s defense ministry will remove Chinese-made cameras from its offices over spying concerns, the country’s Minister for Defence Richard Marles has said. The concerns were raised by Senator James Paterson of the opposition Liberal Party, who said Wednesday that he had conducted an “audit” of Chinese-made security devices in use on Australian government premises. The audit found 913 devices, including cameras, access control systems and intercoms, made by Chinese-state owned enterprises Hikvision and Dahua, Paterson noted. “These companies have a very close relationship with the Chinese Communist Party, and they are subject to China’s National Intelligence laws, which require all Chinese companies and individuals to secretly cooperate with Chinese intelligence agencies if requested,” Paterson said in a radio interview Wednesday. And where those particular cameras are found they’re going to be removed.”Asked about the Australian government’s concerns over Chinese-made cameras, a spokesperson for Beijing’s foreign affairs ministry said China opposes “generalizing national security, abuse of state power and acts that discriminate and suppress Chinese companies.”

☆ Australia to remove Chinese-made security cameras from national war memorial -reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Australia's national war memorial will remove several Chinese-made security cameras installed on the premises because officials are concerned they could be used for spying, local media reported on Wednesday. Eleven surveillance cameras manufactured by Hikvision (002415.SZ), partly owned by Chinese state investors, will be removed from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra by mid-2023, according to the Canberra Times. The Australian War Memorial said in a statement on Wednesday it did not comment on security matters. Opposition senator James Paterson said on Wednesday he is conducting a full audit of all government departments and agencies for possible exposure to Chinese-made surveillance devices. Paterson first raised the issue of Chinese-made surveillance equipment during public hearings last year.

☆ Kentucky bans TikTok from government-owned devices
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Kentucky is joining more than 20 U.S. states in banning the popular video app TikTok on government devices citing cybersecurity concerns. On Thursday, the governors of Wisconsin and North Carolina signed orders banning TikTok on government devices. Calls to ban TikTok from government devices gained steam after U.S. FBI Director Christopher Wray said in November it poses national security risks. Wray flagged the threat that the Chinese government could harness the app to influence users or control their devices. Last month, President Joe Biden signed into law a government funding bill that included a ban on federal employees from using or downloading TikTok on government-owned devices.

☆ Wisconsin governor bans TikTok from state devices on security concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 12 (Reuters) - Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Thursday signed an order banning TikTok on government-owned and managed devices due to cyber security concerns, joining other states and the federal government in prohibiting the use of the popular video app. In addition to banning Chinese-owned TikTok from state devices, the Democratic governor said he is was banning vendors, products and services from nine companies, including Huawei Technologies, Hikvision (002415.SZ), Tencent Holdings (0700.HK), ZTE Corporation (000063.SZ) and Kaspersky Lab. More than 20 other states have also banned TikTok from state devices including Ohio, New Jersey and Arkansas earlier this week. Republican governors have led the charge to ban TikTok from state devices and some Democratic governors have been slower to do so. Calls to ban TikTok from government devices gained steam after U.S. FBI Director Christopher Wray said in November it poses national security risks.

☆ Wisconsin governor signs order banning TikTok from state devices
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Jan 12 (Reuters) - Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Thursday signed an order banning use of the popular video app TikTok on government-owned and managed devices. In addition to banning Chinese-owned TikTok from state devices, the Democratic governor said he is was banning vendors, products and services from nine companies, including Huawei Technologies, Hikvision (002415.SZ), Tencent Holdings (0700.HK), ZTE Corporation (000063.SZ) and Kaspersky Lab. More than 20 other states have also banned TikTok from state devices. Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ New Jersey, Ohio join other states in banning TikTok from state devices
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - New Jersey and Ohio said on Monday they were joining other states in banning use of the popular video app TikTok on government-owned and managed devices. Murphy's office said "there have been national security concerns about user data the Chinese government might require ByteDance to provide." On Friday, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers said he planned to join other states in banning use of the popular video app that has more than 100 million U.S. users. Republican governors have led the charge to ban TikTok from state devices and some Democratic governors have been slower to do so. Calls to ban TikTok from government devices gained steam after U.S. FBI Director Christopher Wray said in November it poses national security risks.

☆ Factbox: Chinese companies added to U.S. entity list
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Thursday added Chinese memory chipmaker YMTC and 21 "major" Chinese players in the artificial intelligence chip sector to a trade blacklist, broadening its crackdown on China's chip industry. YMTC was added to the list over fears it could divert American technology to previously blacklisted Chinese tech giants Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [RIC:RIC:HWT.UL] and Hikvision (002415.SZ). Here is a brief overview of some of the key actions taken as part of the package:FRESH ENTITY LISTINGSThe Biden administration added 35 Chinese companies and one Japan-based subsidiary of a Chinese company (YMTC) to the entity list, barring their suppliers from selling them U.S. technology without a hard-to-obtain permit. REMOVALS FROM THE UNVERIFIED LISTThe Biden administration removed 27 Chinese entities from the unverified list. Companies are added to the unverified list if the United States cannot complete on-site visits to determine whether they can be trusted to receive sensitive U.S. technology exports, inspections which in China require approval from the commerce ministry.

☆ Biden blacklists China's YMTC, crackdowns on AI chip sector
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Alexandra Alper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Thursday added Chinese memory chipmaker YMTC and 21 "major" Chinese players in the artificial intelligence chip industry to a trade blacklist, broadening its crackdown on China's chip industry. It also comes as Congress prepares to finalize legislation to bar the U.S. government from buying products that contain semiconductors made by YMTC, Chinese memory chipmaker CXMT or China's top chip manufacturer SMIC. The Commerce Department on Thursday also targeted nine Chinese entities for allegedly seeking to support China's military modernization, including Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment Group Co Ltd (SMEE), China's only lithography company. Two of the Chinese companies removed from the unverified list - YMTC and SMEE- were added to the entity list. Being added to the unverified list forces U.S. suppliers to perform greater due diligence before shipping to the targeted companies.

☆ Biden to blacklist China's YMTC, crackdown on AI chip sector
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Alexandra Alper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Thursday plans to add Chinese memory chipmaker YMTC and 21 "major" Chinese players in the artificial intelligence chip industry to a trade blacklist, broadening its crackdown on China's chip industry, the Commerce Department said. A total of 35 Chinese entities will be added to the trade blacklist, known as the entity list. The Biden administration plans to remove 26 Chinese entities from the so-called unverified list thanks to successful site visits. Being added to the unverified list forces U.S. suppliers to perform greater due diligence before shipping to the targeted companies. Commerce Department officials have attributed greater cooperation from Beijing in site checks to a new rule announced in October.

☆ U.S. lawmakers ease planned curbs on Chinese chips amid corporate pushback
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Alexandra Alper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The final version no longer forbids contractors from "using" the targeted chips and pushes the compliance deadline back to five years from the immediate or two-year implementation deadlines included in the first version. Chips made by SMIC are commissioned by companies all over the world and can be found in products as diverse as cell phones and cars. They are difficult to identify because chips are not typically labeled with the names of the companies that manufacture them. Lawmakers released a final version of the NDAA Tuesday night. Schumer's office, SMIC, YMTC, CXMT and the Chamber of Commerce did not respond to requests for comment.

☆ U.S. lawmakers ease proposed curbs on Chinese chips amid corporate pushback
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Alexandra Alper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Chips made by SMIC are commissioned by companies all over the world and can be found in products as diverse as cell phones and cars. They are difficult to identify because chips are not typically labeled with the names of the companies that manufacture them. Lawmakers are expected to announce final language for the final package later this week, which may include the revised measure. SMIC, YMTC and CXMT, the Chinese Embassy in Washington and the Chamber of Commerce did not immediately respond to requests for comment. SMIC was blacklisted by the Trump administration over concerns the company aids the Chinese military.

☆ China will move to protect its firms following U.S. telecoms ban
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Dec 1 (Reuters) - China opposes the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's ban on new Chinese telecommunications equipment sales, the commerce ministry said on Thursday, vowing to adopt necessary measures to safeguard the rights of its domestic firms. The Biden administration on Friday banned the sale or import of new telecommunications equipment from China's Huawei Technologies and ZTE (000063.SZ), citing national security risks. Washington designated five Chinese companies to the so-called "covered list" in March 2021: Huawei, ZTE, telecoms firm Hytera Communications Corp, video surveillance firm Hikvision and surveillance equipment maker Dahua. The commission said the following June that it was considering banning all equipment authorisations for the firms on the list. Chinese commerce minister Wang Wentao expressed concerns over U.S. trade restrictions against China during a recent talk with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Shu said last week.

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