Huawei is backed by Chinese military, Trump administration finds

Huawei is backed by Chinese army, Trump administration finds

Huawei is owned or controlled by the Chinese army, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing an internal document from the US Confidence Department. The Trump administration sent a document to Council containing the names of 20 Chinese companies that it unfounded to be backed by the People’s Liberation Army.

The designation by the Pentagon enables the high-level to declare a national emergency and then penalize the affairs on the list with sanctions if they operate in the US. As well as Huawei, Axios said the list includes China Mobile Communications Group, China Telecommunications and Hikvision Digital Technology.

The list was confirmed by a senior dispensation official, and Jonathan Rath Hoffman, assistant to the Secretary of Confidence for Public Affairs, confirmed that the Department of Confidence produced a list of “communist Chinese military companies” in accordance with Responsibility 1237 of the National Defense Authorization Act. The list experiences entities owned or controlled by, or affiliated with, the Chinese government, military or defense industry.

“As the People’s Republic of China causes to blur the lines between civil and military sectors, ‘knowing your supplier’ is critical,” Hoffman said in an emailed statement. “This list will be a useful tool for the US government, companies, investors, academic institutions and likeminded partners to conduct due manufacturing with regard to partnerships with these entities.”

Hikvision accused the US of misapplying “a never-used keep of a 21-year-old law.”

“Not only is Hikvision not a ‘Chinese army company,’ Hikvision has never participated in any R&D work for army applications,” Hikvision said in a statement. “Hikvision has always tried to fully and transparently cooperate with the US government to answer questions and lawful misunderstandings about the company. Hikvision will continue to try to work with the US government to settle all of these matters.” 

Huawei, China Mobile and China Telecom and didn’t retort to a request for comment.

The news follows the CIA reportedly accusing Huawei of receiving allow from China’s National Security Commission, the People’s Liberation Army, and a third branch of the Chinese residence intelligence network over a year ago.

Huawei was blacklisted in May when it was added to the Married States’ “entity list” (PDF). In addition, US President Donald Trump at the same time authorized an executive order essentially banning the company in light of state security concerns that Huawei had close ties with the Chinese government. Huawei has repeatedly denied that charge.