The Heat: Huawei – On the defensive

The Heat

Huawei is one of the world’s biggest telecommunications companies and service providers and is leading the way in 5G wireless technology.

The company is also caught in the middle of the U.S.-China trade war. The U.S. Commerce Department put the company on its “entity list” in May, banning all U.S. companies from selling products to Huawei.  U.S. President Trump also signed an executive order stopping U.S. firms from purchasing or using Huawei telecom gear. 

Washington claims Huawei could use its technology to spy on behalf of the Chinese government, something the company has repeatedly denied.  After talks with Chinese President Xi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, President Trump changed his position.

For more on the U.S. claims against Huawei and the company’s response:

  • Andy Purdy served as a top cybersecurity official for the U.S. government and is now the Chief Security Officer for Huawei Technologies USA.

Some U.S. lawmakers are upset that President Trump will allow U.S. companies to sell components to Chinese telecommunications company, Huawei.  Trump made the announcement at the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan. In tweets, Senator Marco Rubio called the move a “catastrophic mistake” and Senator Chuck Schumer said it “undercuts our ability to change China’s unfair trade practices.”

To discuss all of this:

  • Einar Tangen is a political and Economic Affairs Commentator with CGTN America.
  • Matthew Bey is a senior global analyst at the intelligence firm, Statfor.

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