Huawei listed anew as threat to US national security
US regulators on Friday listed Huawei among Chinese telecom gear firms deemed a threat to national security, signalling that a hoped for softening of relations is not in the cards.
A roster of communications companies thought to pose
"an unacceptable risk" to national security included Huawei
Technologies; ZTE; Hytera Communications; Hangzhou Hikvision Digital
Technology, and Dahua Technology.
"This list is a big step toward restoring trust in our
communications networks," said Federal Communications Commission acting
chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
"This list provides meaningful guidance that will
ensure that as next-generation networks are built across the country, they do
not repeat the mistakes of the past or use equipment or services that will pose
a threat to US national security or the security and safety of Americans."
The five Chinese companies that provide communications
equipment or services were on a roster compiled by the FCC and the Homeland
Security Bureau as per US law.
Huawei chief and founder Ren Zhengfei last month called for
a reset with the United States under President Joe Biden, after the firm was
battered by sanctions imposed by Donald Trump's administration.
In his first appearance before journalists in a year, Ren
Zhengfei said his "confidence in Huawei's ability to survive has
grown" despite its travails across much of the western world where it is
maligned as a potential security threat.
The comments came as the firm struggled under rules that
have effectively banned US firms from selling it technology such as
semiconductors and other critical components, citing national security
concerns.
Insisting that Huawei remained strong and ready to buy from
US companies, Ren called on the Biden White House for a "mutually
beneficial" change of tack that could restore its access to the goods.
Continuing to do so, he warned, would hurt US suppliers.
Founded by Ren in 1987, Huawei largely flew under the global
radar for decades as it became the world's largest maker of telecoms equipment
and a top mobile phone producer.
That changed under former president Donald Trump, who
targeted the firm as part of an intensifying China-US trade and technology
standoff.
Trump from 2018 imposed escalating sanctions to cut off
Huawei's access to components and bar it from the US market, while he also
successfully pressured allies to shun the firm's gear in their telecoms
systems.
Ren also has had to deal with the December 2018 arrest of
his daughter, Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, on a US warrant during a Vancouver
stopover.
Meng, 49, faces fraud and conspiracy charges in the United
States over alleged Huawei violations of US sanctions against Iran, and
separate charges of theft of trade secrets.
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