US steps up battle against Chinese giant Huawei
WASHINGTON/BEIJING: US President Donald Trump stepped up his battle against Huawei on Wednesday, effectively barring the Chinese telecom giant from the US market and adding it to a blacklist restricting US sales to the firm amid an escalating trade war with Beijing.
An executive order signed by the president prohibits purchase or use of equipment from companies that pose “an unacceptable risk to the national security of the US or the security and safety of United States persons”.
“This administration will do what it takes to keep America safe and prosperous and to protect America from foreign adversaries,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.
However, the measure - announced just as a Us-china trade war deepened - is widely seen as prompted by already deep concerns over an alleged spying threat from Huawei.
The commerce department followed up with a more direct hit on the tech giant, adding it to a blacklist that will make it much harder for the firm to use crucial US components in its array of phones, telecom gear, databases and other electronics.
BEIJING TELLS US: STOP USING SUCH PRACTICES
China on Thursday urged the US to stop “harassing overseas companies” and slammed Trump’s decision surrounding Huawei.
“Nobody sees this move as constructive or friendly and we urge US to stop using such practices,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang told reporters.
Lu said China opposes countries that create problems using national security as an excuse.
“Restricting Huawei from doing business in the US will not make the US more secure or stronger; instead, this will only serve to limit the US to inferior yet more expensive alternatives,” Huawei said in a statement. “In addition, unreasonable restrictions will infringe upon Huawei’s rights and raise other serious legal issues.”
CHINA FORMALLY ARRESTS 2 CANADIANS
China has formally arrested two Canadian citizens, apparently to keep up the pressure on Canada to release Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, bringing the two men closer to trial on vaguely defined state security charges.
Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor have been arrested for allegedly stealing state secrets.