The federal government is ratcheting up the pressure on U.S. allies to persuade them to stop using telecommunications technology and equipment from Chinese firm Huawei.
Trump administration officials have reportedly briefed their counterparts in other governments, as well as wireless carriers and internet service providers, in countries such as Germany, Italy and Japan, amid national security concerns over the Chinese company, reported the Wall Street Journal.
The U.S. is considering giving financial aid to those countries that shun Huawei, according to the account. One major concern among Trump officials is the use of Huawei technology in countries that have a prominent American military presence. The Defense Department has its own satellites and telecom network for sensitive communications, but most traffic at military installations travels through commercial networks.
The international effort extends the battle lines of a U.S. campaign to keep Huawei electronics out of American telecom networks. Inside Towers reported concern among U.S. lawmakers over Huawei and ZTE, another Chinese telecom. Huawei equipment increases the risk of cyberattacks and could allow China to spy on communications or disable connections in the fast growing “internet of things,” U.S. officials and lawmakers argue.
Huawei told CNN, it’s “surprised” by the “behaviors of the U.S. government detailed in the article. Huawei firmly believes that our partners and customers will make the right choice based on their own judgment and experience of working with Huawei.”
Huawei is the second smartphone manufacturer in the world, after South Korea’s Samsung, according to The Hill. Comments? Email us.
November 28, 2018
