BEIJING, March 18, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Chinese technology giant Huawei has
replaced thousands of product components banned by the United States with
homegrown versions, its founder has said, according to a transcript of a
recent speech released by a Shanghai university.

A leading supplier of telecom gear, smartphones and other advanced equipment,
Huawei has been repeatedly targeted by Washington in recent years over
cybersecurity and espionage concerns.

The administration of former president Donald Trump effectively barred
American companies from doing business with the firm, and his successor Joe
Biden has imposed further sanctions including a ban on sales of new Huawei
equipment in the United States.

The moves have forced the firm to find new ways to obtain semiconductors and
other parts, with founder Ren Zhengfei saying Huawei has replaced more than
13,000 components with domestic versions in the past three years, according
to the transcript posted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University on Friday.

The company has also redeveloped more than 4,000 circuit boards for its
products, Ren said during the talk, which took place February 24.

"As of now, our circuit board (production) has stabilised, because we have a
supply of domestically produced components," he said.

He did not give details about which specific parts were being sourced from
within China or what proportion of Huawei's total supply they represented.

AFP could not independently verify Ren's claims, and a Huawei representative
gave no further comment when contacted by AFP on Saturday.

Responding to a question from an audience member, Ren said there were still
"difficulties with manufacturing advanced microchips in China, so we have to
find other ways of making up ground (with the US) on chips".

He added that Huawei spent $23.8 billion on research and development last
year, and would invest more in the coming years as profits rise.

"We're still in a difficult period, but have not stopped on the road towards
progress," he said.