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China blacklists researchers that exposed Huawei chip secrets

B

Barnsley

Well-known member
1760093030945.png


NEW YORK – China has added prominent research firm TechInsights to its Unreliable Entity list, shutting out the Canadian teardown specialist that helped expose the inner workings of Huawei Technologies’ AI chips.

TechInsights will be barred from doing business with organisations or individuals in China, alongside a raft of other companies including some drone providers, according to a statement on Oct 9.

The Canadian company, best known for its detailed breakdowns that identify the parts and technology in electronic products, has been first to reveal a number of undisclosed suppliers and components in high-profile Chinese hardware.

In 2023, a Bloomberg investigation in partnership with TechInsights found

Huawei had developed a made-in-China smartphone processor

that could compete with the likes of Qualcomm and Apple.

And last week, the company was able to establish that key parts from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix were present in Huawei’s most advanced AI semiconductors.

The Chinese ministry did not give specific reasons for the inclusion of the analysis firm, whose Japanese, Korean and European entities, along with subsidiary Strategy Analytics, were all placed on the entity list.

This seems like an odd move , each to their own though.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/e...-researchers-that-exposed-huawei-chip-secrets
 
Barnsley said:
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/e...-researchers-that-exposed-huawei-chip-secrets

NEW YORK – China has added prominent research firm TechInsights to its Unreliable Entity list, shutting out the Canadian teardown specialist that helped expose the inner workings of Huawei Technologies’ AI chips.

TechInsights will be barred from doing business with organisations or individuals in China, alongside a raft of other companies including some drone providers, according to a statement on Oct 9.

The Canadian company, best known for its detailed breakdowns that identify the parts and technology in electronic products, has been first to reveal a number of undisclosed suppliers and components in high-profile Chinese hardware.

In 2023, a Bloomberg investigation in partnership with TechInsights found

Huawei had developed a made-in-China smartphone processor

that could compete with the likes of Qualcomm and Apple.


And last week, the company was able to establish that key parts from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix were present in Huawei’s most advanced AI semiconductors.

The Chinese ministry did not give specific reasons for the inclusion of the analysis firm, whose Japanese, Korean and European entities, along with subsidiary Strategy Analytics, were all placed on the entity list.

This seems like an odd move , each to their own though.
Click to expand...

This is the CCP’s standard practice: any person or organization that speaks the truth is treated as a threat to social harmony and national security and they must be silenced or eliminated.
 
I just did a quick check to see whether semiwiki.com is blocked by the CCP/PRC. The good news is that semiwiki.com is now regarded with prestige similar to CNN, Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS, Facebook, X, and Google, all are blocked by China. :)


Beijing – www.semiwiki.com Not Working in China
Hangzhou (Zhejiang) – www.semiwiki.com Not Working in China
Shanghai (Shanghai) – www.semiwiki.com Not Working in China
Shenzhen (Guangdong) – www.semiwiki.com Not Working in China
Zhangjiakou (Hebei) – www.semiwiki.com Not Working in China

This URL appears to be blocked in China.​




1760070122761.png
 
Last edited:
Except the PRC did provide an explanation for why they sanctioned TechInsights.

"Source: Press Office of the Ministry of Commerce 2025-10-09 16:05

The Ministry of Commerce spokesperson answered reporters' questions on the measures related to the Unreliable Entity List

Question: This time, China has once again activated the "Unreliable Entity List" and imposed sanctions on foreign entities such as Anti-Drone Technology Companies, TechInsights and its branches. What are your considerations?

A: In recent years, foreign entities such as Anti-Drone Technology Companies, TechInsights, and their affiliates have, despite China's strong opposition, engaged in so-called military and technological cooperation with Taiwan, made detrimental remarks about China, and assisted foreign governments in suppressing Chinese companies, seriously undermining China's national sovereignty, security, and development interests. China will pursue their illegal actions in accordance with the law, in accordance with the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China, the National Security Law of the People's Republic of China, the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the People's Republic of China, and other laws, as well as Article 2 of the Unreliable Entity List.

China has always handled the Unreliable Entity List (UEL) issue with caution, targeting only a very small number of foreign entities that pose a threat to national security. Honest and law-abiding foreign entities have nothing to worry about. The Chinese government, as always, welcomes investment and business in China and is committed to providing a stable, fair, and predictable business environment for law-abiding foreign enterprises operating in China."

www.reuters.com

Exclusive: TSMC told US of chip in Huawei product after TechInsights finding, source says

Huawei was placed on a U.S. trade-restriction list in 2019 for national security purposes.
www.reuters.com www.reuters.com
"TechInsights informed TSMC about the chip in advance of publishing its findings in a report, the person said, and the chip company notified the U.S. Department of Commerce.
TSMC said in a statement on Monday that it had proactively communicated with the Commerce Department regarding the matter."

The drone companies were selling military drones to Taiwan. For example:
www.avinc.com

AV Signs Strategic Partnership with Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology

TAIPEI, Taiwan, [September 18, 2025] — AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in all-domain defense technologies, today...
www.avinc.com www.avinc.com

I guess AeroVironment will have to do their drones without a custom supply of Chinese lithium ion batteries and permanent magnet electric motors.

BAE Systems is also providing military-technical services to Taiwan:
focustaiwan.tw

Taoyuan firm, BAE Systems sign military equipment support MOU - Focus Taiwan

Taoyuan-based Champion Auto Co. on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BAE Systems to provide logistical support and maintenance for Taiwan's military equipment.
focustaiwan.tw focustaiwan.tw
 
Last edited:
hist78 said:
I just did a quick check to see whether semiwiki.com is blocked by the CCP/PRC. The good news is that semiwiki.com is now regarded with prestige similar to CNN, Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS, Facebook, X, and Google, all are blocked by China. :)


Beijing – www.semiwiki.com Not Working in China
Hangzhou (Zhejiang) – www.semiwiki.com Not Working in China
Shanghai (Shanghai) – www.semiwiki.com Not Working in China
Shenzhen (Guangdong) – www.semiwiki.com Not Working in China
Zhangjiakou (Hebei) – www.semiwiki.com Not Working in China

This URL appears to be blocked in China.​




View attachment 3727
Click to expand...
lol this was working just a month ago...
 
For the Chinese it is anti-market behavior:

"Article 2 The State shall establish the Unreliable Entity List System, and adopt measures in response to the following actions taken by a foreign entity in international economic, trade and other relevant activities:

(1) endangering national sovereignty, security or development interests of China;

(2) suspending normal transactions with an enterprise, other organization, or individual of China or applying discriminatory measures against an enterprise, other organization, or individual of China, which violates normal market transaction principles and causes serious damage to the legitimate rights and interests of the enterprise, other organization, or individual of China.

As used in these Provisions, the term “foreign entity” refers to an enterprise, other organization, or individual of a foreign country."
 
hist78 said:
This is the CCP’s standard practice: any person or organization that speaks the truth is treated as a threat to social harmony and national security and they must be silenced or eliminated.
Click to expand...
At least you can't accuse them of having double standards!!:ROFLMAO:
 
Daniel Nenni said:
SemiWiki gets quite a bit of traffic from China so we are not completely blocked yet. 20k+ users from China are on SemiWiki right now.
Click to expand...

@Daniel Nenni

There are many ways to access a banned website from mainland China, such as using a VPN or a non-PRC mobile carrier while roaming in China. Some government agencies, institutions, and companies may also receive special approval to access websites that are essential to their functions and needs.

Additionally, many web hosting companies (such as Google, which hosts semiwiki.com) have deployed tools that can more accurately identify a user's true location, even if the user is using a VPN or a U.S. carrier’s service while roaming in mainland China. For example, Google’s web traffic analysis can use a browser’s time zone, language settings, and tracking cookies to determine, with high accuracy, whether a website visitor is coming from China, Japan, or Singapore. This capability is crucial to its business and revenue.

In short, using web traffic reports to determine whether a site is blocked by PRC censorship is not reliable.
 
Last edited:
hist78 said:
@Daniel Nenni

There are many ways to access a banned website from mainland China, such as using a VPN or a non-PRC mobile carrier while roaming in China. Some government agencies, institutions, and companies may also receive special approval to access websites that are essential to their functions and needs.

Additionally, many web hosting companies (such as Google, which hosts semiwiki.com) have deployed tools that can more accurately identify a user's true location, even if the user is using a VPN or a U.S. carrier’s service while roaming in mainland China. For example, Google’s web traffic analysis can use a browser’s time zone, language settings, and tracking cookies to determine, with high accuracy, whether a website visitor is coming from China, Japan, or Singapore. This capability is crucial to its business and revenue.

In short, using web traffic reports to determine whether a site is blocked by PRC censorship is not reliable.
Click to expand...

The last time I was in China was at the start of the pandemic. I remember not being able to access US websites from the hotel WiFi but I was able to by my iPhone. I was advised however not to use VPNs or other workarounds at the hotel as it might trigger a security action. There was no news about the pandemic, I heard about it from my wife who texted me and said COME HOME NOW! :ROFLMAO: I was COVID quarantine patient #1 in Danville CA. My wife was quarantined too which was a 30 day paid vacation for her. Funny now but back then it was a little concerning. I have been to Taiwan a few times since then but not China. I really enjoyed my time in China but now the only traveling I do is via sailboat.
 
hist78 said:
I just did a quick check to see whether semiwiki.com is blocked by the CCP/PRC. The good news is that semiwiki.com is now regarded with prestige similar to CNN, Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS, Facebook, X, and Google, all are blocked by China. :)


Beijing – www.semiwiki.com Not Working in China
Hangzhou (Zhejiang) – www.semiwiki.com Not Working in China
Shanghai (Shanghai) – www.semiwiki.com Not Working in China
Shenzhen (Guangdong) – www.semiwiki.com Not Working in China
Zhangjiakou (Hebei) – www.semiwiki.com Not Working in China

This URL appears to be blocked in China.​




View attachment 3727
Click to expand...
How does this test site work? It claims blocked URLs for entities which have provided information to China.
 
Daniel Nenni said:
The last time I was in China was at the start of the pandemic. I remember not being able to access US websites from the hotel WiFi but I was able to by my iPhone. I was advised however not to use VPNs or other workarounds at the hotel as it might trigger a security action. There was no news about the pandemic, I heard about it from my wife who texted me and said COME HOME NOW! :ROFLMAO: I was COVID quarantine patient #1 in Danville CA. My wife was quarantined too which was a 30 day paid vacation for her. Funny now but back then it was a little concerning. I have been to Taiwan a few times since then but not China. I really enjoyed my time in China but now the only traveling I do is via sailboat.
Click to expand...
When traveling in mainland China, U.S. mobile carrier customers (Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile) have their data tunneled back to the carrier’s network outside the PRC. That’s one of the methods people can use to get around the PRC’s blocking. But once you connect your phone through a local Wi-Fi connection in mainland China, the censorship or blocking kicks in.
 
Fred Chen said:
How does this test site work? It claims blocked URLs for entities which have provided information to China.
Click to expand...

There are several websites that provide blocked-by-PRC testing services. They deploy software on PCs or servers located at various sites across mainland China to act as agents. Once you enter a website address, these programs test whether it is blocked.

To confuse people and conceal the CCP/PRC’s true intentions, the blocking operates in various ways. For example, CCP firewalls often don’t stop you outright, instead they make you wait a very long time before the connection times out.

Several years ago, while I was traveling in China, my homeowners association's website back in the U.S. posted an announcement about a summer block party. There would be food, music, and games. Our city government workers usually deliver barricades to block the street so kids can hold tricycle races, while adults eat, drink, and watch movies, all right on the neighborhood street.

I couldn’t access that website from mainland China back then, any guess why? 🙂
 
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