David Becker, Getty Images
Industryweek 34916 Huawei Logo 1540 0
Industryweek 34916 Huawei Logo 1540 0
Industryweek 34916 Huawei Logo 1540 0
Industryweek 34916 Huawei Logo 1540 0
Industryweek 34916 Huawei Logo 1540 0

Trump Goes For China's Digital Jugular

May 16, 2019
The White House threatened to blacklist Huawei Technologies from buying components from American suppliers.

Donald Trump just flashed the nuclear option to thwart China's rise as a superpower.

The White House yesterday threatened to blacklist Huawei Technologies from buying components from American suppliers.

The move could cripple China's largest technology company just as it's set to build 5G wireless networks that will form the backbone of the modern economy, connecting everything from self-driving cars to smart homes to advanced medicine.

Following through with the measure carries huge risks: Besides hurting American chip giants, it would anger U.S. friends and foes alike that are already spending billions on 5G networks. The alternatives to Huawei are often more expensive and seen as inferior.

The threat is likely to elevate fears in Beijing that Trump’s strategic goal is to contain China, sparking a possible cold war between the world’s biggest economies. The two sides are already sparring over the arrest in November of Huawai’s chief financial officer.

Some analysts suggest Trump just wants to pressure China over trade demands as talks hang by a thread. But a number of American lawmakers may also see this moment as the last chance to prevent China from eclipsing the U.S.

By Daniel Ten Kate

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Empowering the Modern Workforce: The Power of Connected Worker Technologies

March 1, 2024
Explore real-world strategies to boost worker safety, collaboration, training, and productivity in manufacturing. Emphasizing Industry 4.0, we'll discuss digitalization and automation...

3 Best Practices to Create a Product-Centric Competitive Advantage with PRO.FILE PLM

Jan. 25, 2024
Gain insight on best practices and strategies you need to accelerate engineering change management and reduce time to market. Register now for your opportunity to accelerate your...

How Manufacturers Can Optimize Operations with Weather Intelligence

Nov. 2, 2023
The bad news? Severe weather has emerged as one of the biggest threats to continuity and safety in manufacturing. The good news? The intelligence solutions that build weather ...

Transformative Capabilities for XaaS Models in Manufacturing

Feb. 14, 2024
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a pivotal shift toward "servitization," or enhancing product offerings with services and embracing a subscription model. This transition...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!