Huawei Trial Could Reopen The US-China Tech War

Huawei is heading back into the centre of the US-China technology fight as a major US criminal trial moves into view. The Financial Times flagged the case in its September 8 briefing, noting that Huawei faces a high-profile trial on charges including racketeering and intellectual property theft, a case that could again test relations between Washington and Beijing.

The roots of the case go back years. The US Justice Department charged Huawei and several subsidiaries in 2020 with racketeering conspiracy and alleged attempts to steal trade secrets from US companies. Huawei has long denied wrongdoing, and the company remains one of the most politically sensitive names in global technology.

The timing is delicate because Huawei is not the weakened company many in Washington expected after years of sanctions. It has continued to build telecoms equipment, cloud services, consumer devices, AI chips and software platforms while China pushes harder for technology self-reliance.

That is why the trial matters beyond the courtroom. US-China technology competition is already tense around AI chips, export controls, cybersecurity and model development. We recently looked at how the US and China are preparing for AI safety talks , but the Huawei case shows how old legal and security disputes can still shape new technology diplomacy.

For the US, Huawei remains a symbol of national-security risk, alleged IP theft and the fear that Chinese technology companies could be used to advance state interests. For China, Huawei is a symbol of resilience against US pressure and proof that sanctions can accelerate domestic innovation rather than stop it.

That is why the courtroom outcome could ripple through policy. A conviction would strengthen Washington’s case for continued restrictions and suspicion around Chinese technology firms. A weaker outcome could give Beijing and Huawei room to argue that years of pressure were politically motivated.

The case also lands as China’s AI and chip ecosystem becomes more ambitious. We have argued that China may still win the AI race if it keeps improving cheaper models, domestic chips and deployment speed. Huawei is one of the companies central to that self-reliance strategy.

The Huawei trial will not decide the US-China tech war by itself. But it could reopen one of its oldest wounds at a time when both sides are already competing over AI, chips, cloud infrastructure and standards. That makes it worth watching closely.