US Orders TSMC to Halt Shipments to Chinese Customers, Beijing Blames Washington for Escalating Tensions

BEIJING, CHINA - China's Taiwan Affairs Office yesterday issued its first official response to the United States' order to halt shipments of advanced chips to some Chinese customers, with spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian accusing Washington of playing the "Taiwan card" to raise tensions in the region.

The order, as reported by Reuters on Sunday, has resulted in Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) halting shipments from Monday. According to a source familiar with the matter, TSMC had been informed of the US request by the same day.

In response to the reports, Zhu Fenglian stated that the United States' move aimed to worsen the situation in the Taiwan Straits, further exacerbating regional tensions. She also claimed that such a decision undermined the interests of Taiwanese companies and was an attempt by Washington to exert pressure on Beijing's closest ally.

Zhu Fenglian made her comments at a news conference, where she was asked about the developments. The statement from China's Taiwan Affairs Office marks the first official response from Beijing to the US order, highlighting the increasingly strained relations between both nations in recent days.