US-based engineering body IEEE reinstates Huawei employees to peer review process after clarification
- IEEE said it received clarification from the US that export controls do not apply to its publication activities
- Despite being seen as an international organisation IEEE said it must meet its legal obligations under the laws of the US
A leading US-based engineering association has reinstated Huawei employees in the peer review process of its professional journals after a strong backlash from Chinese scientists.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) lifted restrictions on editorial and peer review activities of Huawei employees after receiving clarification from the US government that export controls do not apply to the organisation’s publication activities, according to a June 2 statement.
“Employees of Huawei and its affiliates may participate as peer reviewers and editors in our publication process. All IEEE members, regardless of employer, can continue to participate in all of the activities of the IEEE,” said the statement published on IEEE’s website.
IEEE, a major science publisher, had banned staff from China’s telecoms giant Huawei from reviewing submissions to its journals because the Chinese company was put on US government’s export control blacklist.
Ten major Chinese professional societies, including the Chinese Institute of Electronics and China Institute of Communications, were among the latest in China to criticise IEEE. In a joint letter issued on Sunday, the 10 societies urged IEEE to right its wrong and regain the trust from its members and the global science community with actions.