Huawei Offers Code Access in Australia Amidst Security Concerns

Earlier today, the Australian arm of Chinese telecom equipment firm Huawei Technologies fired back against allegations of close ties to the Chinese regime and accusations that doing business with them would be a threat to national security. 

 

Earlier this year, the Australian government barred Huawei from participating in the country’s 38 billion U.S. dollar high-speed broadband network because of national security concerns. 

 

Recently, a U.S. Congressional committee investigation found Huawei, and another Chinese telecommunication firm, ZTE Corp, had close ties with the Chinese regime and their business in the US was a threat to national security.

 

But Huawei has refuted the US findings.

 

[John Lord, Chairman of Huawei Australia]:

"We sincerely hope that in Australia, we do not allow sober debate on cyber security to become distorted the way it has in the U.S. If we are to find real solutions to real cyber security problems we cannot allow the discussion to be muddied by issues like the ongoing trade conflict between the U.S and China."

 

The company says it’d be willing to set up a cyber-security evaluation center in Australia. It would give complete access to its software source code and equipment.

 

A similar center was set up two years ago in Britain, where Huawei was sourced to help build the national broadband network, with the co-operation of the government. But the recent findings by the US are making Britain, as well as Canada, reexamine past dealings with Huawei. 

 

Part of the security concerns over Huawei stems from its founder, Ren Zhengfei, who was former officer of the People’s Liberation Army. 

 

Despite being the world’s second largest telecom’s equipment maker, Huawei has remained an unlisted company. There have been calls for Huawei to go public, so that its operations would be subject to greater transparency.  So far, the company has not indicated it would do so.

 

Huawei began its Australian operations in 2004 and has expanded its business across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.