China calls ‘bunk’ on Huawei threat as Canada’s decision on Meng Wanzhou looms
- Chinese envoys ramp up support for telecom giant as United States maintains pressure to exclude company from 5G networks
Chinese diplomats overseas have stepped up their defence of telecom giant Huawei ahead of Canada’s decision on Friday on whether to proceed with a hearing for the extradition of the company’s chief financial officer to the United States.
The support comes amid continued pressure from the US to ban Huawei from next-generation telecommunications networks and divergent views among Western nations about the potential security risks posed by the Chinese company.
At the same time, Ottawa has until midnight on March 1 to decide whether to go ahead with a formal extradition hearing for Meng Wanzhou – Huawei’s chief financial officer and the daughter of its founder – at the behest of the United States. Washington has accused Meng of aiding her company in violating US sanctions against Iran – charges she, her company, and Beijing deny.
Chinese ambassador to Canada Lu Shaye said US security concerns about Huawei were “bunk”, and only an attempt to suppress competitors, Ottawa-based The Hill Times reported on Wednesday.
“The attack by US and other countries’ intelligence agencies is not based on real national security concerns, but is meant to crowd out Huawei and create unfair competition conditions to benefit their own domestic telecom equipment companies,” Lu was quoted as saying.