The Chinese collusion monster rears its ugly head again. Shenzhen OEM Huawei is guilty once more of collusion with Chinese intelligence in the latest German report.
Huawei accused of Chinese intelligence collusion in German report
The German daily business newspaper, The Handelsblatt, alleges that Huawei colludes with the Chinese government. The German report says it obtained this knowledge through US intelligence officials at the end of 2019.
The former Android OEM denies the German report. “Huawei Technologies has never, and will never, do anything to compromise the security of networks and data of its customers,” the company said in response.
Huawei and Chinese Collusion: the reasonable nature of the German report
This isn’t the first time Huawei is linked to Chinese collusion. The company itself is a tool of the Chinese state, with Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei owning a mere 2% of the company. Various employees own the remainder of the company. Huawei says that its business is employee-owned. And yet, Huawei government officials appear whenever the company sells one of its digital safe cities to a client, such as Uganda. The company’s name is Chinese for the advancement of China.Â
Many of Huawei’s employees are ex-military, from CEO Ren Zhengfei on down. Zhengfei worked in telecommunications while serving in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in China. Of course, the PLA works hand-in-hand with Chinese intelligence. This is no different than the US Army working with the Federal Government.
When Huawei employees submit technological research papers, they place the Huawei logo on such papers as some kind of authentication.
Huawei’s infamous track record with rogue countries
It was discovered months ago that Huawei has worked with Chinese intelligence on at least ten projects. Additionally, the company has also built 5G networks for rogue countries such as North Korea, Sudan, and Syria. Britain is allowing Huawei access to the peripheral 35% of its 5G network. The EU agrees with Britain’s decision about Huawei. For some time now, the US has been warning its allies not to do business with Huawei. Germany has been on the fence, but this just may tip the scales in the US’s favor.
Huawei has telecommunications knowledge and skill. The company belongs to employees. Beijing officials attend Huawei functions and events. Its employees come from military backgrounds. They write technological research papers for the military using the Huawei logo.
Huawei says that it is doing nothing wrong, but it is the suspicion that matters. Huawei’s past actions reveal that the company can work with the Chinese government, whether such partnership is mandatory or voluntary. And the company’s secrecy about who owns it only adds to the suspicion.
Illegal smuggling, criminal partnerships, and government subsidies: it all adds up
Huawei reveals through its partnerships with sanctioned countries, and its law-breaking activities such as phone smuggling into the US despite the ban, that it will not play by the rules. A company that will not play by the rules will break them, regardless of customer impact. The company says it will not put its customers at risk, but if the loss of Chinese government subsidies is at stake, it will. Of course, it’s not surprising that Huawei denies receiving government money, too.