“Perhaps, the most puzzling part of the [Belgian Intelligence Services] report is what it does not mention. Although most countries are extremely concerned about China investments in their Telecom infrastructure, the Belgian report is silent on this issue. Why, on earth, why?”
Intel Today (November 30 2018)
“The UK needs to take decision on the extent to which we are going to be comfortable with Chinese ownership of these technologies.”
MI6 chief Alex Younger (December 3 2018)
“Given the massive cybersecurity and national security risks, the only responsible decision is for Berlin to follow the Australian, New Zealand, and U.S. lead and ban Chinese providers from the German 5G network. In doing so, Europe’s strongest economy would send a crucial signal to the rest of the European Union members that are grappling with the same decision.”
Thorsten Benner — Director of the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin (December 9 2018)
“Huawei shares with the Chinese state intimate and extensive knowledge of the foreign telecommunications systems it is involved with.”
General Michael Hayden — Former head of the U.S. National Security Agency
“If China would resort to putting Canadians to death to defend its corporate national champion, what might it do if the Chinese Communist Party had unfettered access to Canada’s vital communications networks?”
Richard Fadden — Head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service spy agency from 2009 to 2013 (January 20 2019)
December 5 2018 — The United States, Australia and New Zealand have already blocked Huawei from building their new 5G networks on security grounds. On December 5, Britain’s BT Group said it would rip Huawei equipment from its core telecom network. Canada is also likely to ban Huawei and it is reported that Japan is expected to ban government use of products made by Huawei and ZTE over cyber-security concerns.
So, why on earth has Europe been silent on this critical issue for so long? What are they waiting for? I am afraid that it will all depend on Germany’s decision.
UPDATE — On March 26 2019, the European Commission has recommended a set of operational steps and measures to ensure a high level of cyber-security of 5G networks across the EU.
The Commission does not call for a European ban on global market leader Huawei, leaving it to EU countries to decide on national security grounds. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY Continue reading →
