China condemns Canada's Huawei 5G ban over 'groundless' security risks

Beijing hit out atCanadafor banning telecoms giantsHuaweiand ZTE from Canadian5Gnetworks on Friday, calling Ottawa's concerns forsecurityrisks"groundless" and warning of retribution.

Canada's long-awaited measureon Thursday follows the United States and other key allies, and comes on the heels of a diplomatic row between Ottawa and Beijingoverthe detention of a seniorHuaweiexecutive on a US warrant, which has now been resolved.

The United States has warned of thesecurityimplications of giving Chinese tech companies access to telecommunications infrastructure that could be used for state espionage.

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BothHuaweiand Beijing have rejected the allegations.

"Chinais firmly opposed to this and will conduct a comprehensive and serious assessment," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters in response to the5Gblock.

"The Canadian side has excluded these Chinese companies from the Canadian market under the pretext ofgroundlesssecurityrisksand without any solid evidence."

He added that Beijing would"take all necessary measures" to protect Chinese companies.

"This move runs counter to market economy principles and free trade rules," he said, accusing the Canadian government of "seriously damaging the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies."

Canadahad been reviewing the5Gtechnology and network access for several years, repeatedly delaying a decision that was first expected in 2019.

It remained silent on the telecoms issue afterChinajailed two Canadians -- diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor -- in what observers believed was in retaliation for the arrest ofHuaweichief financial officer Meng Wangzhou in Vancouver in December 2018 at the request of the United States.

Watch |Canada to ban Huawei, ZTE 5G equipment as it joins five eyes intelligence-sharing network

All three were released in September 2021 after Meng reached a deal with US prosecutors on the fraud charges, ending her extradition fight.

But Canadian Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne made the5Gannouncement on Thursday, citing the "intention to prohibit the inclusion ofHuaweiand ZTE products and services inCanada's telecommunication systems."

Champagnesaid Canadian telecommunications companies"will not be permitted to include in their networks products or services that put our nationalsecurityat risk."

"Providers who already have this equipment installed will be required to cease its use and remove it," he said.

Hostile actors

Huaweialready supplies some Canadian telecommunications firms with 4G equipment.

Most, if not all, had held off usingHuaweiin their fifth-generation (5G) wirelesss networks that deliver speedier online connections with greater data capacity. Others have looked to other suppliers while Ottawa hemmed and hawed.

Canadian Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino warned Thursday of "many hostile actors who are ready to exploit vulnerabilities" in telecom networks.

The United States, Australia, Britain, New Zealand, Japan and Sweden have already blocked or restricted the use ofHuaweitechnology in their5Gnetworks.

The US government considersHuaweia potentialsecuritythreat due to the background of its founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei, a former Chinese army engineer who is Meng's father.

The concern escalated asHuaweirose to become the world leader in telecoms networking equipment and one of the top smartphone manufacturers.

Beijing also passed a law in 2017 obliging Chinese companies to assist the government in matters of nationalsecurity.

The decision could prove to be "a major expense forCanada," Kendra Schaefer, tech policy researcher at consultancy TriviumChina, told AFP.

"Not only have local telecom providers already invested... inHuaweiequipment, but additionally they are going to go back and have to rip out everything they've already installed," she added.

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