This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/may/14/huawei-founder-shut-down-china-eavesdrop

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Huawei founder 'would shut it down' if China asked it to eavesdrop Huawei 'prepared to sign no-spy agreement with UK government'
(about 7 hours later)
The founder of the Chinese telecoms equipment firm Huawei would “shut the company down” if he was asked by the country’s communist regime to eavesdrop on mobile phone calls, according to a senior executive at the fast-growing multinational. Huawei’s chairman has said the Chinese company would be prepared to sign a “no-spy agreement” with the British government to reassure politicians that it has no intention of allowing its technology to be used for surveillance.
Tim Watkins, the company’s vice-president for western Europe, said Huawei had never been asked by the Chinese government to conduct surveillance despite a recently introduced intelligence law – and insisted it never would. Speaking on a visit to London, Liang Hua said the company did not want to spy on western consumers and that concerns about Chinese laws requiring the company to cooperate with the regime’s intelligence agencies were overblown.
“Our founder, Mr Ren [Zhengfei], has made it clear that he has never been asked to hand over any customer data or information, and he has made it clear that if asked he would refuse and if it was attempted to be enforced he would shut the company down,” Watkins said. “We are willing to sign a no-spy agreement with the UK government,” the company’s chairman told reporters. “No spying, no back doors,” Liang added, the first time he has made such a commitment public.
Huawei is at the centre of a political controversy in the UK over whether it should be allowed to provide 5G mobile phone technology, with the United States raising concern that its equipment could be exploited by China for surveillance. The senior executive said Huawei had not been asked to conduct any surveillance by the Chinese government, and there were “no laws requiring the companies to collect intelligence from foreign governments”.
Last month, it emerged that the UK’s National Security Council (NSC) had taken a decision in principle to allow Huawei to supply “non core” equipment after a fraught meeting in which five cabinet minsters raised objections. Huawei is at the centre of a political controversy in the UK over whether it should be allowed to provide 5G mobile phone technology, with the US raising concerns that its equipment could be exploited by China for surveillance.
Last month, it emerged that the UK’s National Security Council (NSC) had taken a decision in principle to allow Huawei to supply “non-core” equipment after a fraught meeting in which five cabinet minsters raised objections.
Huawei is a Chinese telecoms company founded in 1987. Politicians in the US have alleged that Huawei’s forthcoming 5G mobile phone networks could be hacked by Chinese spies to eavesdrop on sensitive phone calls and gain access to counter-terrorist operations. Allies who allow Huawei technology inside their 5G networks have been told they may be frozen out of US intelligence sharing. Australia, New Zealand and Japan have banned Huawei from their 5G networks.Huawei is a Chinese telecoms company founded in 1987. Politicians in the US have alleged that Huawei’s forthcoming 5G mobile phone networks could be hacked by Chinese spies to eavesdrop on sensitive phone calls and gain access to counter-terrorist operations. Allies who allow Huawei technology inside their 5G networks have been told they may be frozen out of US intelligence sharing. Australia, New Zealand and Japan have banned Huawei from their 5G networks.
In the UK, BT has excluded Huawei telecoms infrastructure from its own 5G rollout and removed some of its equipment from the 4G network. In January 2019 Vodafone said it had decided to 'pause' the use of Huawei equipment in its core networks across Europe. The UK's defence secretary Gavin Williamson was sacked by prime minister Theresa May after a leak revealed the sensitive decision that the UK would not be totally banning Huawei from 5G projects.In the UK, BT has excluded Huawei telecoms infrastructure from its own 5G rollout and removed some of its equipment from the 4G network. In January 2019 Vodafone said it had decided to 'pause' the use of Huawei equipment in its core networks across Europe. The UK's defence secretary Gavin Williamson was sacked by prime minister Theresa May after a leak revealed the sensitive decision that the UK would not be totally banning Huawei from 5G projects.
Poland’s internal affairs minister, Joachim Brudziński, has called for the European Union and Nato to work on a joint position over whether to exclude Huawei from their markets, after an Huawei employee was arrested on spying charges.Poland’s internal affairs minister, Joachim Brudziński, has called for the European Union and Nato to work on a joint position over whether to exclude Huawei from their markets, after an Huawei employee was arrested on spying charges.
Much of the doubt surrounding Huawei stems from founder Ren Zhengfei’s background in China's People’s Liberation Army between 1974 and 1983, where he was an engineer. His daughter, Huawei’s senior executive Meng Wanzhou, was arrested in Canada in December 2018 over allegations of Iran-sanctions violations, and she awaits extradition to the US. Ren, referring to trade issues between the US and China, says the company is 'like a small sesame seed, stuck in the middle of conflict between two great powers'.Much of the doubt surrounding Huawei stems from founder Ren Zhengfei’s background in China's People’s Liberation Army between 1974 and 1983, where he was an engineer. His daughter, Huawei’s senior executive Meng Wanzhou, was arrested in Canada in December 2018 over allegations of Iran-sanctions violations, and she awaits extradition to the US. Ren, referring to trade issues between the US and China, says the company is 'like a small sesame seed, stuck in the middle of conflict between two great powers'.
Shortly afterwards Gavin Williamson was fired as defence secretary after being accused by the prime minister of being behind the leak.Shortly afterwards Gavin Williamson was fired as defence secretary after being accused by the prime minister of being behind the leak.
Critics of the decision in the UK have pointed to a 2017 Chinese intelligence law that requires companies to cooperate with the country’s government if required, and say Huawei could be forced to comply with surveillance demands. Critics of the decision in the UK, such as the foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, have pointed to a 2017 Chinese intelligence law that requires companies to cooperate with the country’s government if required, and say Huawei could be forced to comply with surveillance demands.
Asked about the law in an interview on the BBC’s Today programme, Watkins said that “all countries have a similar kind of law” when asked about its potential impact – and later observed “there has never been a request” made under its provisions. Asked whether concerns about the law were overblown, Liang said there was “some sense in that statement”. He said the law could not be enforced in practice because “there is no law that says if we refuse to enforce it [a request from Chinese intelligence agencies], it will be a crime”.
Senior Huawei executives including the company’s chairman, Liang Hua, have come to the UK for a long-arranged meeting with suppliers and partners, where they are also lobbying to be allowed to supply kit for mobile phone networks. The chairman also endorsed remarks made earlier in the day by a colleague who had said Huawei’s founder would “shut the company down” if he was asked by China’s communist regime to eavesdrop on mobile phone calls.
A report from Oxford Economics, commissioned by the company, claimed Huawei had directly contributed £287m to the UK economy by 2018, and that when the contribution of its suppliers and employees was added that took the total to £1.7bn. It employs 1,600 people in the UK, having supplied equipment in the country since 2001. Tim Watkins, the company’s vice-president for western Europe, said Huawei had never been asked by the Chinese government to conduct surveillance despite the intelligence law – and insisted it never would.
But Sir Michael Fallon, a former defence secretary, said the UK should “take account of American warnings” and ban Huawei entirely. “It’s very dangerous letting Huawei into the infrastructure of our next generation networks,” he said. “Our founder, Mr Ren [Zhengfei], has made it clear that he has never been asked to hand over any customer data or information, and he has made it clear that if asked he would refuse and if it was attempted to be enforced he would shut the company down,” Watkins said.
British intelligence agencies led by GCHQ have argued that any risks from Huawei can be contained – a special unit dubbed “the Cell” exists to monitor the company’s software to ensure it cannot be exploited. Theresa May followed their advice at the controversial NSC meeting. Senior Huawei executives including Liang have come to the UK for a long-arranged meeting with suppliers and partners, where they are also lobbying to be allowed to supply kit for mobile phone networks.
However, Fallon, echoing the US concerns, said he believed such confidence was misplaced. “I don’t see the distinction between so-called core and so-called edge. That’s the view that the US and Australia have taken and it would be a great mistake to be out of line with our allies.” A report from Oxford Economics, commissioned by the company, claimed Huawei had directly contributed £287m to the UK economy by 2018, and that when the contribution of its suppliers and employees was added it took the total to £1.7bn. It employs 1,600 people in the UK, having supplied equipment in the country since 2001.
But the former defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon said the UK should “take account of American warnings” and ban Huawei entirely. “It’s very dangerous letting Huawei into the infrastructure of our next generation networks,” he said.
British intelligence agencies led by GCHQ have argued that any risks from Huawei can be contained – a special unit known as “the Cell” exists to monitor the company’s software to ensure it cannot be exploited. Theresa May followed their advice at the controversial NSC meeting.
Fallon, echoing the US concerns, said he believed such confidence was misplaced. “I don’t see the distinction between so-called core and so-called edge. That’s the view that the US and Australia have taken and it would be a great mistake to be out of line with our allies.”
Last week Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, argued for a total ban on Huawei. “Ask yourself: would the Iron Lady be silent when China violates the sovereignty of nations through corruption or coercion?”Last week Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, argued for a total ban on Huawei. “Ask yourself: would the Iron Lady be silent when China violates the sovereignty of nations through corruption or coercion?”
HuaweiHuawei
Telecommunications industryTelecommunications industry
TelecomsTelecoms
SurveillanceSurveillance
Privacy
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content