The United States has announced it is banning telecommunications equipment makers from top Chinese brands, including Huawei and ZTE, saying that they pose an “unacceptable risk to national security”.
The United States government, through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), announced new rules banning U.S. sales and imports of new equipment from Chinese telecommunications and video surveillance companies Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision, and Dahua Technology.
FCC said that they are taking new measures to protect the communications networks of the United States. “These new rules are an important part of our ongoing actions to protect the American people from national security threats involving telecommunications,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
Why ban Chinese companies? The ban is the latest escalation in U.S. policy toward Chinese tech and telecom companies. The U.S. is increasing its domestic tech manufacturing industry amid increasing tension and technological rivalry with China to stop Beijing from reaching the cutting edge of the industry and to secure dominance over strategic technology.
Countries including U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand — the members of Five Eyes intelligence alliance — have banned the use of 5G technologies from Huawei and ZTE Huawei and ZTE wireless equipment. The restriction is seen as part of a Western push to isolate China’s high-tech sector.
Reaction: Chinese telecom giants Huawei and ZTE are among the world’s biggest suppliers of telecom equipment. Huawei executives have repeatedly said that the company does not give data to the Chinese government and that its equipment is not compromised. ZTE has said that the company has always abided by international standards and best practices, by opening up its cybersecurity labs to enable regulators and stakeholders to verify the security of ZTE products”.
