A representative of Huawei, the Chinese telecoms giant, which has been blacklisted by the US over national security concerns, sought to ‘ease fears’ of European governments and ‘create opportunities’ at European Parliament debate on 5G technology held on Wednesday (16 October). The telecoms manufacturer is trying to ease European concerns that it is a cyber security risk, pointing out it wants to help make the continent a world leader in next-generation mobile networks.
“We have to find a ‘European way.’ So let’s do it together,” Abraham Liu, Huawei Technologies’ representative to the European Union told a debate organized by four main political groups of the European Parliament. “We plan to work with all of you in partnership to ease fears and create opportunities.” According to Liu, his company offered the most advanced technologies to connect the continent and facilitate the fourth industrial revolution in Europe, which could include artificial intelligence, self-driving cars and supercomputers.
Huawei, the world’s top telecoms equipment maker, has come under pressure after being blacklisted in the United States in May. Washington has subsequently urged EU countries to stop using its products, especially for crucial 5G networks, citing a concern that they might be used for spying. The Chinese telecoms giant, who competes with Finland’s Nokia and Sweden’s Ericsson, has previously announced that it was prepared to work with its European partners on 5G-network security. A report published earlier in October, which warns of the danger of increased cyber attacks by state-backed entities, falls short of explicitly singling out China and Huawei as security risks. Huawei has always denied its equipment can be used for spying.
