The US kills off Huawei’s access to Google Android and TSMC. Almost completely killing their consumer business.
But then hands them a lifeline: you can buy chips at Qualcomm (but not Mediatek) and Intel (but not AMD). Allowing them to maintain a presence in consumer phones and laptops.
Now 5 years later when they have finally built their own operating system and setup their own fabs - the US kills access to Intel and Qualcomm.
Why?