Huawei’s Poland spying case threatens China’s efforts to win over Eastern and Central Europe
- Latest controversy surrounding Chinese telecoms giant could hit Beijing’s efforts to boost its presence in the region
The controversy involving Huawei Technologies in Poland will not only exacerbate the ongoing crisis surrounding the Chinese telecoms giant’s global operations, but also threaten Beijing’s overtures towards Eastern and Central Europe, analysts have said.
Chinese observers also warned that the escalating tensions over the arrest of a Huawei employee in Poland on spying charges could put further strains on China’s relations with Europe amid simmering tensions over trade and growing concerns about the Belt and Road Initiative.
Last week’s detention of Wang Weijing, Huawei’s sales director in Poland, showed the US-China rivalry over technology pre-eminence has spilled over into Europe, according to Wang Yiwei, head of the Centre for EU Studies at Renmin University of China.
“Clearly, the United States is desperate to check China’s rapid economic and technological ascendancy and is trying to use its allies and partners in Europe to curb Huawei,” he said.
The latest controversy followed the December arrest of Meng Wanzhou – also known as Sabrina Meng and Cathy Meng – Huawei’s chief financial officer in Canada, who was later released on bail.
The world’s largest telecoms equipment supplier is facing intense international scrutiny led by the US amid growing suspicion over its ties with the Chinese government and military.