Huawei’s European figurehead has blasted the US over its treatment of the Chinese vendor has described their behavior as ‘bullying’.
The comments were made by Abraham Liu, who is Huawei’s representative in Europe – and he has warned that the United States’ represent a threat to common trade relations and rules.
The decision by the Trump administration to block Huawei from the US market and prohibit American companies from selling components and technology to the Chinese telecommunications colossus has sparked an angry backlash in Beijing.
The US has been initiating a lengthy campaign against Huawei outside of Washington and has lobbied allies such as Australia and New Zealand from allowing the 5G leader from participating in the rollout of their next-generation networks.
However, Liu is determined that they won’t pressure Europe into following suit and has vowed to go the ‘extra mile’ to ensure Huawei eases EU security concerns over the company being involved in the rollout of 5G technology across the continent.
Liu said, “It is evident that Huawei is becoming the victim of the bullying by the US administration. This is not just an attack against Huawei. It is an attack on the liberal, rules-based order. This is dangerous.”
In addition to this, he warned that Huawei, which is accused of maintaining close ties with Chinese intelligence, may be targeted today, but that any company could be hit in the future.
"If we shut our eyes, what will be the likely consequences of such a complacent appeasement in the future?"
Liu highlighted his company's nearly 20-year presence in Europe which has been controversy free until recently - and its employment of 12,200 people, most of them hired locally, and what he said was its key role in advancing European economic interests.
But he also addressed suspicions among Europeans who share some of the same concerns as the Trump administration over Huawei's alleged link to Chinese intelligence.
In March, the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, presented a plan to ensure the secure introduction of 5G telecom networks, as some EU countries negotiate with Huawei to deploy its advanced technology.
"We at Huawei understand the security concerns of European governments and we are ready to go for the extra mile,"
"Because of the importance of 5G, as an industry leader, Huawei stands ready to sign no-spy agreements with governments and customers in all EU member states," he said.
