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Oxford says no to additional Huawei funding
BEIJING, Jan 18, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Oxford University has decided to forgo
further funding from Chinese tech giant Huawei as scrutiny grows in Europe
over the telecom company’s relationship with the Beijing government.
Huawei has been under fire in recent months with the arrests of a top
executive in Canada and an employee in Poland, along with a worldwide
campaign by Washington to blacklist its equipment.
And in the latest blow for Huawei, Oxford University said it had decided it
would “not pursue new funding opportunities” for both research contracts or
philanthropic donations from Huawei and related group companies — though
existing projects would continue.
“We currently have two such ongoing projects, with a combined funding from
Huawei of œ692,000 ($898,000),” a university spokesman said Thursday, adding
that Huawei had been informed of the decision to turn away future funding.
Oxford said it had made the decision in “light of public concerns raised in
recent months surrounding UK partnerships with Huawei.”
But a Huawei spokesman said the company had not been informed and would
“await the University’s full explanation.”
“We have operated in the UK since 2001, employ 1,500 people here and have
long standing research collaborations with 20 other UK universities working
to develop the technologies of the future,” he said.
Huawei faces unprecedented challenges to its business amid a global
campaign by Washington to push nations to reconsider using the telecom
giant’s equipment in their cellular networks over security concerns.
Australia and New Zealand banned its gear last year and a top British
operator moved to remove its existing equipment, while concerns grow in
Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and other
countries.
Huawei’s reclusive founder Ren Zhengfei stepped out of the shadows this
week to give a rare media interview, forcefully denying accusations that his
firm engaged in espionage on behalf of the Chinese government.
The company fired the Chinese employee in Poland who was arrested on
espionage allegations.
Ren’s daughter and Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou was detained
in Canada last month on US fraud charges related to Iran sanctions
violations.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1220 hrs