U.S. warns allies to avoid Huawei 5G tech
Canada weighs options as Chinese firm denies allegations of spying
As Canada considers whether to allow Chinese tech giant Huawei to help build this country’s next generation of wireless networks, the United States is warning its allies that the company can use its products to spy in countries where they are being used.
On Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department also laid criminal charges against the Chinese tech giant, alleging the company conspired to steal trade secrets from American competitors. The charges follow a report that Trump administration believes Huawei can “secretly access sensitive and personal information,” and says it has the evidence to back up the allegation, which Huawei has denied.
It all leaves the Canadian government in the middle of another fight between the U.S. and China, virtually guaranteeing that any decision Ottawa makes on Huawei’s involvement in Canadian networks will anger one of the superpowers.
The American claims are not surprising, says Stephanie Carvin, a former intelligence analyst and a professor of international affairs at Carleton University.
“Combined with other allegations that are being made about Huawei, it does paint a picture that this is a company that’s willing to use nefarious practices, that will take support from (the Chinese state), or at least doesn’t have any qualms about doing so,” Carvin told the Star. “And that’s the concern.”
But Ottawa should also consider the context in which the charges have been laid, said Fen Hampson, the director of the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University.
“The timing of the new charges strike me as orchestrated escalation against Huawei by U.S. authorities, which puts Canada in an even tighter vise than before,” Hampson said.
Canadian officials have almost certainly been given access to the American intelligence on Huawei, as the Trump administration ratchets up pressure on allies to ban the Chinese telecom. Canadian and U.S. national security officials refused to comment on specific intelligence, but the two countries routinely share security information.
U.S. national security adviser Robert C. O’Brien said Wednesday that the allegations against Huawei are “alarming” because Chinese companies are required to follow directives from their government.
“Strategically, we see a company that can use its position in the market to advance the aims of the Chinese Communist Party,” O’Brien said in a written statement to the Star.
“It is hard to see how any global telecommunications firm could view the company as a trusted provider of mobile hardware and software.”
At least one Canadian telecom doesn’t seem to share O’Brien’s concerns. On Thursday, Telus Mobility announced it would allow Huawei technology in “nonsensitive” portions of its future 5G network.
In a written statement, Huawei denied the U.S. accusation that it had built “back doors” into its products that allow the company to covertly access data. The allegation was first reported by the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.
“Huawei is only an equipment supplier. In this role, accessing customer networks without their authorization and visibility would be impossible,” the company said.
In 2018, the Canadian government launched a national security review into 5G technology, the next generation of wireless infrastructure that will greatly speed up the transfer of data.
In January, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair made clear that the review would consider issues beyond cybersecurity.
“Although the security concerns are very significant, we also want to make sure that we give full consideration to what is best for Canadians, what is best for the industry environment, best for our relationships with our allies and partners,” Blair told reporters.
Canada’s decision on Huawei could have important diplomatic implications. The Trump administration has been aggressively lobbying its allies to ban Huawei from building their networks, arguing that allowing the Chinese company to install 5G infrastructure would compromise cybersecurity.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo suggested last year that the United States would think twice before sharing intelligence with countries that allow Huawei to build their networks.
A chill on information sharing with the U.S. could pose major problems for Canada’s national security agencies.
Among the “Five Eyes” — the international security and intelligence alliance of which Canada is a member — only Australia and the U.S have banned Huawei from their 5G plans. New Zealand and the U.K. have allowed the Chinese supplier limited access.
The U.K.’s recent decision on Huawei infuriated U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a report in the Financial Times last week. Trump was “apoplectic” and “livid” over the decision on a phone call with U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Times reported, citing officials in Washington and London. A Canadian ban on Huawei technology could deepen a diplomatic rift between Ottawa and Beijing, which began when Canadian authorities arrested Huawei’s chief financial officer at the request of the U.S. Meng Wanzhou is fighting extradition to the U.S., where she is wanted on fraud charges.
Since Meng’s arrest, China has detained Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig on unspecified national security grounds, and imposed trade restrictions that have damaged the Canadian economy.
Banning Huawei technology could also complicate the Liberals election promise to lower cellphone bills by driving up the cost of building 5G networks.
“It is hard to see how any global telecommunications firm could view the company as a trusted provider.”
ROBERT C. O’BRIEN U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR