Huawei Technologies, the mainland's biggest telecommunications equipment manufacturer, challenged the United States government to conduct a sweeping investigation of the company in an unusual bid to prove it is not a national security risk.
The unprecedented proposal, which was made public through an open letter released yesterday by Huawei deputy chairman Ken Hu, 'could be a turning point in Chinese investment in the US information-technology sector', according to Gary Li, a specialist at the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies.
Shenzhen-based Huawei's action followed its recent decision to cancel its US$2 million purchase of part of insolvent IT company 3Leaf Systems after initially refusing a US government commission's request to withdraw from the acquisition on national security grounds.
'We sincerely hope that the United States government will carry out a formal investigation on any concerns it may have about Huawei,' Hu, also the chairman of Huawei's US operations, said. 'We believe the results of any thorough government investigation will prove that Huawei is a normal commercial institution and nothing more.'
Founded in 1987, privately held Huawei is the world's second-biggest telecommunications equipment provider and has more than 1,000 employees in the US. Last year, it bought some US$6.1 billion in products and services from US companies.
Despite Huawei's commitment as a long-term investor in the US, Hu said the company 'has encountered a number of misperceptions' about its origin, source of funds, and intentions in the country.