Taiwan’s Commerce Ministry has added Chinese tech giants Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) to its export control list, reflecting rising trade and technology tensions between Taiwan, China, and the United States.

Being listed as part of Taiwan’s “strategic high-tech commodities” control measures means Taiwanese businesses must now obtain special licenses before exporting products to these companies. The list also includes groups such as the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and various entities in China, Iran, and other regions.

The updated list was released on Sunday, though neither Huawei nor SMIC has issued a statement regarding their inclusion.

Both Huawei and SMIC are already under U.S. sanctions. They are developing China’s most advanced AI chips as part of Beijing’s strategy to compete with American tech firms like Nvidia and to reduce reliance on foreign chip supplies amid international export restrictions.

Taiwan plays a key role in global semiconductor production and is home to the world’s largest chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), which supplies major players like Nvidia.

In November, the U.S. directed TSMC to stop delivering certain high-end chips to Chinese clients, further tightening controls on China's access to leading-edge technologies.

China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has not ruled out using force to bring it under its control. Meanwhile, the United States remains Taiwan’s most important unofficial ally and arms supplier.