The European Commission warned on Thursday (June 15) that Chinese telecom giants Huwaei and ZTE pose a risk to the European Union's security. It announced that it will no longer use services that rely on the companies.

"The commission considers that Huawei and ZTE represent in fact materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers," the EU's executive arm said in a statement.

The European Commission added that it "will take relevant security measures so as not to procure new connectivity services that rely on equipment from those suppliers".

Thierry Breton, the EU's internal market Commissioner appealed 27-member states and telecom operators to exclude equipment&nbsp;from these companies from their mobile networks.

"We cannot afford to maintain critical dependencies that could become a 'weapon' against our interests. That would be too critical a vulnerability and too serious a risk to our common security," Breton said during a press conference in Brussels.

Watch | European Union Parliament passes world's first law on A-I rules

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Some 24 EU member states have adopted the rules or are laying down the groundwork to give national authorities the power&nbsp;to issue restrictions, the commission said.

Breton, however, said that only 10 members had used the rules to restrict or exclude high-risk vendors. He did not name the countries.

"This is too slow, and it poses a major security risk and exposes the union's collective security, since it creates a major dependency for the EU and serious vulnerabilities," he said.

The move has come three years after European Commission introduced strict 5G rules. The rules however, did not include an outright ban on any particular supplier and it did not name Huawei.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-parliament-votes-in-favour-of-regulating-use-of-ai-across-bloc-604527">European Parliament votes in favour of regulating use of AI across bloc</a>

Thursday's announcement therefore marks a departure for the bloc and represents the EU's increasingly tougher line on China, while maintaining ties with Beijing.

<h2>US pressure</h2>

The United States has put pressure on Europe to exclude the companies over national security concerns and last year issued a ban on the import or sale of communications equipment from Chinese companies including Huawei and ZTE.

Washington has previously expressed fears that Huawei equipment could be compromised by Chinese intelligence.

Britain has also blocked Huawei's involvement in the roll-out of its 5G telecoms network.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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The European Commission warned on Thursday (June 15) that Chinese telecom giants Huwaei and ZTE pose a risk to the European Union's security. It announced that it will no longer use services that rely on the companies.

The European Commission warned on Thursday (June 15) that Chinese telecom giants Huwaei and ZTE pose a risk to the European Union's security. It announced that it will no longer use services that rely on the companies. "The commission considers that Huawei and ZTE represent in fact materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers," the EU's executive arm said in a statement. The European Commission added that it "will take relevant security measures so as not to procure new connectivity services that rely on equipment from those suppliers". Thierry Breton, the EU's internal market Commissioner appealed 27-member states and telecom operators to exclude equipment from these companies from their mobile networks. "We cannot afford to maintain critical dependencies that could become a 'weapon' against our interests. That would be too critical a vulnerability and too serious a risk to our common security," Breton said during a press conference in Brussels. Watch | European Union Parliament passes world's first law on A-I rules × Some 24 EU member states have adopted the rules or are laying down the groundwork to give national authorities the power to issue restrictions, the commission said. Breton, however, said that only 10 members had used the rules to restrict or exclude high-risk vendors. He did not name the countries. "This is too slow, and it poses a major security risk and exposes the union's collective security, since it creates a major dependency for the EU and serious vulnerabilities," he said. The move has come three years after European Commission introduced strict 5G rules. The rules however, did not include an outright ban on any particular supplier and it did not name Huawei. Also Read | European Parliament votes in favour of regulating use of AI across bloc Thursday's announcement therefore marks a departure for the bloc and represents the EU's increasingly tougher line on China, while maintaining ties with Beijing. US pressure The United States has put pressure on Europe to exclude the companies over national security concerns and last year issued a ban on the import or sale of communications equipment from Chinese companies including Huawei and ZTE. Washington has previously expressed fears that Huawei equipment could be compromised by Chinese intelligence. Britain has also blocked Huawei's involvement in the roll-out of its 5G telecoms network. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Chinese telecom giants Huawei, ZTE pose risk to EU security, says European Commission

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has said that its fighters set on fire the installations of telecommunication companies at Margat's Chokhobi Wadh area of Quetta Balochistan on June 26 and have captured six of its staff members.

In an official statement, the spokesperson of the pro-freedom resistance organisation - Azad Baloch - have named the captured workers as Gul Shah Khan, Abdul Aadi and Mehraj residents of Quetta, Zhob and Qila Saifullah respectively, and Muhammad Yusuf, resident of Quetta, Amanat Ali, resident of Gujrat, Punjab, Rehmatullah, resident of Qila Saifullah.

He added that the first three men had been released on the same day while the others were found to be suspicious and are still in the custody of the BLA.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-inducts-china-made-vt-4-battle-tanks-395404" hreflang="en">Pakistan inducts China-made VT-4 battle tanks</a>

"Our organization has decided that if the United Nations or other international organizations, including representatives of the Red Cross in Geneva, act as guarantors for the release of the detained workers and assure us that they will not re-engage in such 'exploitative project' and spy networks of Pakistan army then they will be released," Azad Baloch Baloch said.

The organisation has given the UN and other international bodies 10 days period to respond to their demand. 'Otherwise, the arrested men will be presented before the Baloch National Court for non-compliance,' BLA spokesperson said further.

The BLA also said that various telecommunication companies in occupied Balochistan have been repeatedly warned not to act as facilitators in expansionist ambitions of the imperialist powers (Pakistan and China).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/tiktok-back-in-pakistan-after-court-revokes-ban-395471" hreflang="en">TikTok back in Pakistan after court revokes ban</a>

China, in collaboration with Pakistan, has set up a telecommunications network and is using other telecom companies, including Hawaii, and Subcon companies, (Netcom, Exeleron, ZTE) to spy on and trace the movement of people in Balochistan. All of these projects are being funded through a well-organized project under the "Universal Service Fund".

China has already to some extent implemented its economic and military ambitions against the will of the Baloch nation in the coastal city of Gwadar in occupied Balochistan, where the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project has been threatened by Baloch freedom fighters, due to which China and Pakistan are constantly trying new methods for Baloch genocide.

Telecom companies are installing mobile towers in uninhabited hilly areas of Balochistan at the behest of the Pakistani military. Under the guise of these telecom companies, China and Pakistan exchange secret information about Baloch freedom fighters and help the Pakistan army to intensify the ongoing military aggression and the abductions of Baloch youths in occupied Balochistan.

The Baloch Liberation Army statement claimed that the workers arrested in Margot Chokhobi Wadh were part of the same exploitative scheme.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) and Voice for Baloch Missing Persons' chairman Nasruallah Baloch in their separate statements have appealed to the Baloch Liberation Army to release the arrested workers unconditionally on humanitarian grounds.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has said that its fighters set on fire the installations of telecommunication companies at Margat's Chokhobi Wadh area of Quetta Balochistan on June 26 and have captured six of its staff members.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has said that its fighters set on fire the installations of telecommunication companies at Margat's Chokhobi Wadh area of Quetta Balochistan on June 26 and have captured six of its staff members. In an official statement, the spokesperson of the pro-freedom resistance organisation - Azad Baloch - have named the captured workers as Gul Shah Khan, Abdul Aadi and Mehraj residents of Quetta, Zhob and Qila Saifullah respectively, and Muhammad Yusuf, resident of Quetta, Amanat Ali, resident of Gujrat, Punjab, Rehmatullah, resident of Qila Saifullah. He added that the first three men had been released on the same day while the others were found to be suspicious and are still in the custody of the BLA. Also read | Pakistan inducts China-made VT-4 battle tanks "Our organization has decided that if the United Nations or other international organizations, including representatives of the Red Cross in Geneva, act as guarantors for the release of the detained workers and assure us that they will not re-engage in such 'exploitative project' and spy networks of Pakistan army then they will be released," Azad Baloch Baloch said. The organisation has given the UN and other international bodies 10 days period to respond to their demand. 'Otherwise, the arrested men will be presented before the Baloch National Court for non-compliance,' BLA spokesperson said further. The BLA also said that various telecommunication companies in occupied Balochistan have been repeatedly warned not to act as facilitators in expansionist ambitions of the imperialist powers (Pakistan and China). Also read | TikTok back in Pakistan after court revokes ban China, in collaboration with Pakistan, has set up a telecommunications network and is using other telecom companies, including Hawaii, and Subcon companies, (Netcom, Exeleron, ZTE) to spy on and trace the movement of people in Balochistan. All of these projects are being funded through a well-organized project under the "Universal Service Fund". China has already to some extent implemented its economic and military ambitions against the will of the Baloch nation in the coastal city of Gwadar in occupied Balochistan, where the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project has been threatened by Baloch freedom fighters, due to which China and Pakistan are constantly trying new methods for Baloch genocide. Telecom companies are installing mobile towers in uninhabited hilly areas of Balochistan at the behest of the Pakistani military. Under the guise of these telecom companies, China and Pakistan exchange secret information about Baloch freedom fighters and help the Pakistan army to intensify the ongoing military aggression and the abductions of Baloch youths in occupied Balochistan. The Baloch Liberation Army statement claimed that the workers arrested in Margot Chokhobi Wadh were part of the same exploitative scheme. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) and Voice for Baloch Missing Persons' chairman Nasruallah Baloch in their separate statements have appealed to the Baloch Liberation Army to release the arrested workers unconditionally on humanitarian grounds.

BLA says it set on fire Chinese telecommunication companies, captured 6 workers in Pakistan's Balochistan

The United States continues to crackdown on Chinese firms and in the latest, the country has begun the process of revoking the authorisation of two Chinese telecom firms.

United States FCC: Chinese firms pose National security threat