Intelligence officials tackle Huawei’s power as Donald Trump’s decision is unclear
- US experts ponder ‘nightmare scenario’ in which Chinese telecoms giant emerges as uncontested leader in 5G technology
- Despite security concerns, president is considering using Huawei as bargaining chip in US trade war with Beijing
This story is published in a content partnership with POLITICO. It was originally reported by Adam Behsudi on politico.com on August 19, 2019.
US intelligence officials recently brought together experts to game out how Huawei’s reach into next-generation 5G wireless technology could test US global alliances.
The simulation organised by government intelligence agencies comes even as US President Donald Trump has considered using the Chinese telecommunication giant as a bargaining chip in his trade war with Beijing.
Specialists in cybersecurity, China’s economy, trade and other areas were practising, among other scenarios, how the US would respond to a world in which Huawei emerges as the uncontested leader in 5G technology, three people who took part in the exercises said. That would place the Chinese company in a central spot of the vast global communications backbone.
“The point is, what does the world look like in a nightmare scenario?” said one person who was present. This person added that it is still unclear what the findings of the exercise will mean in terms of policy.
The uncommon exercise took place over two days last week in suburban Washington and was organised under the National Intelligence Council, which is part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.