Shenzhen-based Huawei Technologies is now the target of a probe by Washington into the security risk posed by mainland telecommunications companies working in the United States, 10 months after the company challenged the US government to investigate it.
The US House of Representatives' intelligence committee yesterday promised to review the extent to which companies such as Huawei allegedly facilitate Chinese economic espionage and threaten America's critical infrastructure.
The committee will also review how focused the US government and its intelligence community are about probing that threat and developing measures to protect the country's telecommunications networks. Huawei, the world's second-largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer after Sweden's Ericsson, had earlier asked the US government to conduct a sweeping investigation of the company to allay fears that it threatened national security.
The unusual proposal, which was made public in February through an open letter by Huawei's deputy chairman, Ken Hu, did not receive any official response until yesterday's announcement by Congressman Mike Rogers, the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
'We are looking at the overall infrastructure threat and Huawei happens to be the 800-pound gorilla in the room, but there are other companies that will be included in the investigation,' Rogers said.
'As the formal investigation begins, I stand by my caution to the American business community about engaging Huawei technology until we can fully determine their motives.'
A spokesman for the privately held Huawei said the company looked forward to 'an open and fair investigation'.