Huawei 5G: Nato considers action over security concerns as Trump pushes for US domination

Western nations are concerned that Huawei will facilitate Chinese spying and control

Clark Mindock
New York
Thursday 14 March 2019 17:05 GMT
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The US government wants its European allies to ban the company from next-generation mobile networks
The US government wants its European allies to ban the company from next-generation mobile networks

Nato is considering taking action in response to security concerns posed by Chinese tech giant Huawei.

Secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said that members states had raised issues over potential investment in its 5G communications technology.

Allies “will continue to consult, continue to assess, and look into whether Nato has a role to play,” Mr Stotlenberg said, adding: “Nato takes these concerns very seriously”

The United States is lobbying European and other allies to shun the biggest maker of network technology as their phone carriers invest billions in upgrading to next-generation mobile networks.

The major concern surrounding Huawei is that, if it is allowed to build out this critical next-generation infrastructure in western countries, it could allow the Chinese to spy or control networks.

The company has denied that their technology could facilitate that spying or control. However, concerns remain.

Recently, a representative of the German BND intelligence service told politicians in the country that past incidents involving Huawei show that it is not a trustworthy partner.

“It’s above all a matter of trustworthiness and of the impact on our relationship with our allies,” a foreign ministry official told Bloomberg.

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The rhetoric from the US and other allies has raised some concerns for the Chinese firm, prompting Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei to push back and warn that the US efforts would damage the country’s international reputation.

“We chose to have our voice heard at this moment because the US government considers us a threat to national security,” Mr Ren said, according to CNN. “They have to have evidence. Everybody in the world is talking about cybersecurity and they are singling out Huawei.”

Donald Trump, meanwhile, has urged the US to adopt 5G “and even 6G” technologies as soon as possible.

“I want 5G, and even 6G, technology in the United States as soon as possible,” Mr Trump tweeted last month. “It is far more powerful, faster, and smarter than the current standard. American companies must step up their efforts, or get left behind.”

“I want the United States to win through competition, not by blocking out currently more advanced technologies. We must always be the leader in everything we do, especially when it comes to the very exciting world of technology,” he continued.

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