Huawei denies ban basis
One of Chinese tech firm Huawei’s top executives says Australia was wrong to ban the company from building Australia’s 5G network.
Huawei was blocked from bidding for contracts to work on 5G last year due to alleged security issues and links to China’s Communist Party.
Huawei’s consumer chief in Western Europe, Walter Ji, says there is no proof that Huawei would jeopardise Australia’s national security, insisting the company complies with local law and does not share information with Chinese intelligence agencies.
“Of course we are not happy with the current situation, because we always try our best to comply with the local law. We have not been told any reason why we were excluded from 5G,” Mr Ji told the ABC.
He said Huawei is an independent private company inside China.
“It is important for the Australian Government to make the right decision based on facts. From our side we continue to be open to talk if they have any concern,” Mr Ji said.
Federal Communications minister Paul Fletcher said Australia stands by its decision to block Huawei from the 5G rollout.
“Australia's position on 5G security is based on our domestic and national interests. The Australian Government stands by its August 2018 announcement on 5G security,” the spokesman said.
Huawei’s Australian chairman, John Lord, says there could be some xenophobia at play.
“We're doing a discussion with a bit of xenophobia around it and I think Huawei's been caught up in this, which is sad for a commercial company,” Mr Lord said.
“It [xenophobia] is not allowing an open debate about how we embrace these new innovations and technologies so that Australia gets the best innovation and technology.”