Huawei vows to push on with 5G development despite bans, Meng Wanzhou arrest
- ‘We believe that customers will make their own decisions,’ says chairman Liang Hua
- China foreign ministry backs calls for immediate release of CFO detained in Canada
Huawei chairman Liang Hua said on Tuesday the company’s operations remained “normal” after the arrest of CFO Meng Wanzhou, and called for the early return of his colleague.
Liang said Huawei would continue to push on with 5G development despite more bans against the company. “In the face of a crisis of confidence from the West, first we must do our own work well, and continue to build Huawei’s competitiveness in the field of 5G,” said Liang, according to Sina Tech. “We believe that customers will make their own decisions.”
He said Huawei had already obtained 26 commercial 5G contracts.
Liang, who was reportedly appointed CFO following Meng’s arrest, thanked those around the world who had supported Meng and Huawei. He presented a coffee cup to the media, which he said was made spontaneously by company employees, with text that reads: “The lighthouse is waiting for the early return of the night boat.” The term night boat, or wanzhou, refers to Meng’s given name.
Meng’s arrest in Canada, at the behest of the United States, has ignited a diplomatic row between Beijing and Ottawa, and increased tensions between Beijing and other western capitals, as a Washington-led trade war targets Huawei, a top Chinese technology company.
After Meng’s detention, China arrested two Canadian citizens, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, on the charge of endangering its national security, a move that has been widely viewed as retaliation for Meng’s arrest.