Huawei Offers A 'No-Spy' Agreement

The Trump government has attacked Huawei, saying that US business need licences to sell technologies to Chinese organisations. Foreign organisations operating in China are now under scrutiny by Beijing for cyber security violations. 

Huawei says it is "willing to sign no-spy agreements with governments" including the UK, its chairman Liang Hua (pictured) said. It follows concerns from some countries that China could use products made by the telecoms firm for surveillance. The Chinese company has denied that its work poses any risks of espionage or sabotage.

However, some British MPs believe Huawei should be banned from the UK. A Report from the Henry Jackson Society (HJS), claims that Huawei has often been accused of espionage and concerns should be raised.

The HJS report has a foreword by Sir Richard Dearlove, who led MI6 between 1999 and 2004. Using blunter language than the report’s authors, he wrote: “I very much hope there is time for the UK Government ... to reconsider the Huawei decision.

 “No part of the Communist Chinese state is ultimately able to operate free of the control exercised by its Communist Party leadership,” Dearlove added. “Therefore, we must conclude the engagement of Huawei presents a potential security risk to the UK.”

Huawei has said it is independent from the Chinese government. However, finding this statement untenable, some countries have blocked the organisation from their 5G networks, often saying that their reasons are based on national security grounds.

Huawei is the world's largest maker of telecoms equipment. It faces a growing backlash from Western countries on concerns over the security of its products used in next-generation 5G mobile networks and Australia and New Zealand have banned Huawei from their 5G networks.

President Trump has signed an executive order that would make possible a ban on American companies from using telecommunications equipment from Huawei and other companies that the US believes pose a national security risk.

In response to the order, Huawei stated: “If the US restricts Huawei, it will not make the US safer, nor will it make the US stronger. It will only force the US to use inferior and expensive alternative equipment, lagging behind other countries … and ultimately harming US companies and consumers.”

The Chinese government slammed the order as a “disgraceful and unjust” move that targets “specific Chinese companies.”

The executive order refers to the International Emergency Economics Power Act, a law enacted in 1977 that gives the US president power to control trade in response to a national emergency.

Specific companies are not named in the executive order, but it would likely affect Huawei because of longstanding concerns that the Chinese government can use its telecommunications equipment for spying.

Huawei is now suing the US government, arguing that the ban on using its equipment by federal agencies and contractors violated due process and is unconstitutional. This US ban on Huawei would affect wireless carriers who want to use 5G networks.

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