Republican Senator Marco Rubio Wants To Block All Sales To Huawei

Senator Marco Rubio, known for his hardline stance on China, is urging the Biden administration to halt all sales to Huawei. This request follows Huawei’s release of a new AI-enabled laptop featuring an Intel processor chip. Rubio’s call likely stems from concerns about Huawei’s ties to the Chinese government and the potential security risks associated with its products.

The launch of Huawei’s inaugural AI-enabled laptop, the MateBook X Pro, featuring Intel’s latest Core Ultra 9 processor, has drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers. They contend that its release implies the Commerce Department sanctioned Intel’s sale of the chip to Huawei, raising concerns about national security.

Rubio and Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik have voiced strong objections to the possibility that the Commerce Department authorized the shipment. In a letter addressed to Commerce Department Secretary Gina Raimondo, they assert that such authorization would be deemed unacceptable. They argue that it would signify a failure to uphold export controls against Huawei, a company blacklisted due to its association with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The letter intensifies pressure on the Biden administration to implement more aggressive measures aimed at curtailing Huawei’s activities. Despite longstanding scrutiny from Washington due to national security apprehensions, certain sectors of Huawei’s business are experiencing a degree of resurgence.

Huawei declined to provide a comment in response to the request. Intel stated that it “strictly complies with all the laws and regulations in the countries where we do business.” A spokesperson for the Commerce Department confirmed receipt of the letter and indicated that the agency would respond accordingly but refrained from providing further comment.

The Chinese Embassy expressed opposition to the practice of singling out companies based on their country of origin and criticized the use of national security as a pretext to suppress foreign companies without substantiated evidence.

In 2019, the United States placed Huawei on a trade restriction list citing concerns about potential espionage activities that could jeopardize the security of American citizens. This action was part of a broader strategy to limit China’s technological advancements, particularly in areas with potential military applications. Placing Huawei on this list imposes stringent restrictions on its suppliers, requiring them to obtain difficult-to-obtain licenses before conducting business with the company.