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Huawei rejects Western security fears, says ‘no evidence’
SHENZHEN, China, Dec 18, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Huawei defended its global
ambitions and network security on Tuesday in the face of Western fears that
the Chinese telecom giant could serve as a Trojan horse for Beijing’s
security apparatus.
The company has been under fire this year, with Washington leading efforts
to blacklist Huawei internationally and securing the arrest of the company’s
chief financial officer in Canada.
The concerns have mounted as countries begin to plan and roll out fifth-
generation mobile communications, or 5G, the next milestone in the digital
revolution, bringing near-instantaneous connectivity and vast data capacity.
Huawei has faced a tough year as western countries like the United States,
Australia, New Zealand, Britain, pull back from using its products while
concerns grow in Japan, France, Germany and even the Czech Republic over
security issues.
Seeking to dispel those fears, the company took the unprecedented step
Tuesday to open research and development labs to reporters at its
headquarters in the southern city of Shenzhen.
Huawei’s rotating chairman Ken Hu told reporters the company has not
received any request from the Chinese government for access to information.
“There is no evidence that Huawei poses a threat to the national security
of any country,” Hu said, adding geopolitical concerns have caused a few
countries to forego its equipment.
He said customers continue to trust the company despite what he sees as
efforts to fan fears against the firm.
“Banning a particular company cannot resolve cybersecurity concerns,” he
said. “Huawei’s record is clean.”
Hu emphasised the information-sharing and collaboration centres Huawei is
building in Europe, Canada, and elsewhere to evaluate products.
Those are based on a cyber evaluation centre the company built in Britain
a decade ago to share information with regulators, though it has not fully
resolved concerns.
While the company opened its doors to the media, Hu skirted questions on
the arrest in Canada of Huawei’s chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, who
faces US fraud charges related to Iran sanctions violations. She is the
daughter of Huawei’s founder, Ren Zhengfei.
“We have confidence in the fairness and independence of the judiciary
systems of the countries involved,” Hu said.
“We look forward to a just conclusion to this matter.”
– 25 contracts –
With 5G’s rollout expected to gain pace in coming years, the race to
dominate standards and control security and data traffic is playing out now
and will set the course for years to come.
Huawei has invested years and billions of dollars to prepare for this
moment.
The firm has secured 25 commercial contracts for 5G, Hu said.
The company is on track to reach $100 billion in annual revenue this year,
he added. It has more than 80,000 employees engaged in research and
development — almost half of its staff.
At its Shenzhen headquarters, dozens of low industrial warehouse-like
buildings topped with solar arrays stretch out in one patch of the city to
house the researchers.
Some of that investment could be squandered if the company is locked out
of the lucrative Western telecom markets, experts say.
Britain’s largest mobile provider BT this month announced it was removing
Huawei equipment from its 4G cellular network, days after the head of the MI6
foreign intelligence service singled out the company as a security risk.
Hu said BT acted “under political pressure”.
Last month New Zealand’s intelligence agency barred Huawei equipment in
the rollout of the country’s 5G network, citing similar concerns.
Australia and the United States also enacted similar bans earlier this
year.
– ‘Always open’ –
Distrust of Huawei stems in part from the background of founder Ren
Zhengfei, a 74-year-old former People’s Liberation Army engineer.
Beijing also passed a law in 2015 obliging its corporations to aid the
government on matters of national security.
This move, along with Beijing’s return to state heavy intervention in the
economy and society, have sparked alarm in the West. The US has accused
Chinese entities of massive cyber-attacks.
Huawei showed a different face as it gave a tour of a building dubbed the
“White House” for its resemblance to US President Donald Trump’s official
residence.
Scientists in chequered lab coats toiled away on the company’s products:
powders turned into liquid to dissipate heat, while other materials prevented
freezing, or reduced noise.
“Huawei is always open,” said Sean Yang, director of global cybersecurity
and privacy protection.
Big characters posters common to China adorned the walls and spurred
employees to “protect security”.
BSS/AFP/RY/1825 hrs