United States government agencies have placed restrictions on technology exports to facilities in China associated with the supercomputer called Tianhe-1A. The move adds to the already mounting technological tensions between the two countries.

The Tianhe-2 -- or "Milky Way" in English -- is one of the world's fastest supercomputers.

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In 2013, it rose to the top of the ranks of a bi-annual ranking of supercomputers based on a series of tests.

Companies associated with Tianhe-2 and an earlier system called Tianhe-1A have been placed on a U.S. government list of entities determined to be acting against the national security and foreign-policy interests of the U.S.

In addition, Tianhe-1A was believed to be used in nuclear explosive activities, a notice posted by the U.S. Commerce Department reported last February.

Intel spokesman Chuck Malloy commented Tianhe-2 is in compliance with the law, however.

The designers of the system similarly commented the supercomputer was being used for projects like genome research.

The supercomputer is powered by two kinds of Intel microprocessor chips. This means the ban on the export to several China facilities is a large blow to Intel Corporation and other hardware suppliers.

Intel spokesman Chuck Malloy said Intel was denied an export license last fall to supply more chips for Chinese supercomputer projects.

The export ban comes at a time when U.S. technology companies are dealing with new proposed restrictions by Beijing on their ability to do business in the vast Chinese market while the threat of cybersecurity looms overhead.

Several companies are complaining China's new banking-technology procurement rules and a new proposed counterterrorism law is seen to be overly invasive in handling sensitive material.

The administration of President Obama has already called Beijing to hold back on these efforts.

Both sides have declined any comments on the matter.

TagsIntel, Supercomputer, Tianhe-2, US Agencies