Huawei fires employee on spy charges

HONG KONG/WARSAW: Chinese telecommunications equipment maker Huawei said yesterday it had sacked an employee arrested in Poland on spying charges in a case that could intensify Western security concerns about the company.

Poland’s internal affairs minister, Joachim Brudzinski, called for the European Union and Nato to work on a joint position over whether to exclude Huawei from their markets following the arrest of the Chinese employee and a former Polish security official on Saturday.

The two men have heard the charges and could be held for three months.

Huawei, the world’s biggest producer of telecommunications equipment, faces intense scrutiny in the West over its relationship with the Chinese Government and USled allegations its devices could be used by Beijing for spying.

No evidence has been produced publicly and the firm has repeatedly denied the accusations, but several Western countries have restricted Huawei’s access to their markets.

In August, US President Donald Trump signed a Bill that barred the US Government from using Huawei equipment and is considering an executive order that would also ban US companies from doing so.

Brudzinski said Poland wanted to continue cooperating with China but a discussion was needed on whether to exclude Huawei from some markets.

‘‘There are concerns about Huawei within Nato as well. It would make most sense to have a joint stance among EU member states and Nato members,’’ he told broadcaster RMF FM.

Huawei said it had sacked Wang Weijing, whose ‘‘alleged actions have no relation to the company’’.

‘‘We require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based,’’ the company said.

A spokesman for the Polish security services said the allegations related to individual actions, and were not linked directly to Huawei.

However, a deputy digital affairs minister in Poland said Warsaw was analysing any involvement by Huawei in building the country’s 5G telecommunications infrastructure, Money.pl portal reported.

A LinkedIn profile for Wang showed he had worked for Huawei’s Polish division since 2011.

China’s foreign ministry is urging Poland to handle the case ‘‘justly’’.

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Poland said yesterday the embassy had requested the Chinese side be briefed on the matter and consular visits be arranged as soon as possible. — Reuters