My Take | Nothing will satisfy Washington with Huawei other than its destruction
- The 5G equipment maker is not any more dangerous than any other major global telecoms gear supplier. Its real threat is not cybersecurity, but China’s potential challenge to America’s technological dominance, especially in cyber networks
If he was speaking to an audience of network security or computer forensic experts, the offer might make sense.
But what Huawei is really facing is America “the grand inquisitor”, whose sole interest is to destroy the Chinese 5G pioneer. To do that, Washington has to drag Huawei’s reputation through the mud with unfounded accusations, try to put its founder’s daughter – who is also its chief financial officer – behind bars on trumped-up charges with its sanctions law against Iran, and pressure allies in Europe and client states in Latin American to ban Huawei. It is working.
He also said Huawei had no intention of leaving the Italian market, despite all the pressure from trade sanctions imposed by Washington over security concerns. He may be fighting a losing battle.
During his current European diplomatic tour, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has made significant inroads in persuading European countries to curb China’s 5G technology. France and Britain are set to phase out the Chinese technology. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has said he will heed US security concerns about Chinese 5G telecoms while his country’s main telecoms operator has said it will not use any Chinese 5G equipment.