US Agencies Block Technology Exports for Supercomputer in China

US officials are blocking technology exports to facilities in China associated with the world’s fastest supercomputer, a blow to Intel and other hardware suppliers that adds to the list of tech tensions between the two countries. Four technical centers in China associated with the massive computer known as Tianhe-2 have been placed on a US government list of entities determined to be acting contrary to US national security or foreign-policy interests. The system, which is powered by two kinds of Intel microprocessor chips, and an earlier system called Tianhe-1A “are believed to be used in nuclear explosive activities,” according to a notice dated Feb. 18 and posted by the US Commerce Department.