Huawei Technologies and ZTE on Monday both asked the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) not to finalise its designation of the China tech giants as risks to US national security. In November, the FCC voted 5-0 to initially designate Huawei and ZTE as national security risks in a move that would bar their US rural carrier customers from tapping an US$8.5 billion government fund to purchase equipment. Huawei said in a nearly 200-page filing with the FCC the action was “designed to implement a campaign by certain government officials, including members of Congress, to single out Huawei for burdensome and stigmatising restrictions, put it out of business in the United States, and impugn its reputation here and around the world”. It called the effort “unlawful and misguided”. ZTE asked the FCC Monday in a filing to “take additional time to assess ZTE’s enhancements in the area of US export control and economic sanctions compliance and security controls in ZTE products.” ZTE added it has “spent hundreds of millions of dollars to implement a compliance program relating to US export control compliance regulations.” US telecoms watchdog now accepting public’s comments on Huawei and ZTE The commission left the final determination to the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, which could determine not to finalise the risk designation. Such a move would run counter to the Trump administration’s stance to date, after its blacklisting of Huawei in May sharply restricted the export of US hi-tech components to the company. The administration has also tried with limited success to persuade its allies to bar Huawei , saying its equipment could potentially be used by Beijing for spying. Huawei has repeatedly denied those allegations, and scored a big win last week when the UK announced it was giving Huawei a role in its new generation of telecoms infrastructure. In its November vote, the FCC proposed requiring that US carriers remove and replace equipment from both Huawei and ZTE, also China-based, from existing networks. The companies’ ties to the Chinese government and military apparatus, and laws requiring their help in intelligence activities, are why they pose a security risk, the FCC said. Purchase the China AI Report 2020 brought to you by SCMP Research and enjoy a 20% discount (original price US$400). This 60-page all new intelligence report gives you first-hand insights and analysis into the latest industry developments and intelligence about China AI. Get exclusive access to our webinars for continuous learning, and interact with China AI executives in live Q&A. Offer valid until 31 March 2020.