Han Ximin

ximhan@126.com

SHENZHEN-BASED Huawei claimed Thursday the attempts to restrict the company from doing business in the U.S. will not make the U.S. more secure or stronger. Instead, it will only serve to limit the U.S. to inferior yet more expensive alternatives, leaving the country lagging behind in 5G deployment.

The statement was made one day after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that gives the government authority to block transactions that involve information or communications technology that “poses an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States.”

“Huawei is the unparalleled leader in 5G. The restriction will eventually harm the interests of U.S. companies and consumers. Additionally, unreasonable restrictions will infringe upon Huawei’s rights and raise other serious legal issues,” the statement said.

Under the restriction order, U.S. companies cannot sell or transfer technology to Huawei, the world’s largest telecom equipment maker, without a license issued by the U.S Bureau of Industry and Security, which could make it harder for Huawei to do business, as it depends on some U.S. suppliers for parts. The order had been opposed by small rural U.S. carriers, who have continued to rely on Huawei equipment even after the company was largely dropped by the larger telecommunications firms.

In an interview Wednesday, David Wang, Huawei’s executive director of the board and president of information and communication technology strategy and marketing, said such an order would be misguided.

Huawei is a global pioneer in research and development for 5G. It said in April that it had secured 40 commercial 5G network contracts and shipped more than 70,000 5G base stations.