The U.S. government has banned the sale of new products from Huawei and ZTE , a large Chinese telecommunications equipment company, on the grounds that it could pose a threat to national security.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission said on the 25th that it will completely ban the import and sale of new products such as Huawei and ZTE, citing “unacceptable risks” to national security. Five members of the Federal Communications Commission unanimously made the decision, saying there is a possibility of a ban on sales of existing licensed items. The Federal Communications Commission said it will also ban the import and sale of new products from China’s Dahua Technology, Hikvision, and Hythera Telecom, which make video surveillance equipment.
Jessica Rosenworth, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, said, “The Federal Communications Commission is committed to ensuring national safety by preventing the use of unreliable communication equipment within our borders, and will continue to do so.” Federal Communications Commission member Brendan Carr explained, “For the first time in history, we have banned permission to use new equipment for national security reasons.”
The Federal Communications Commission has been pushing for a ban on sales and use of Chinese telecommunications equipment and video surveillance equipment, saying that sensitive information may be transferred to China without users knowing it. Until now, it has been prohibited to only use federal subsidies to purchase Huawei and ZTE equipment. In March last year, the Federal Communications Commission designated five Chinese companies, including Huawei and ZTE , as companies that could pose a threat to national security.
China’s Hikvision, which is banned from selling new products in the U.S., said its products pose no threat to U.S. security, and the Federal Communications Commission’s move would “make it more expensive for U.S. small businesses, local authorities, schools and consumers to protect themselves, homes, businesses and property.”
Meanwhile, the British government issued a guideline on the 24th not to install closed circuit televisions (CCTVs) made by Chinese companies such as Hikvision. In the UK, controversy has been raised over the widespread use of closed-circuit televisions by government agencies in China. It is also argued that buying equipment used to monitor Uighurs in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region is a blind eye to human rights violations
