By: Bryan Li
The US has banned the sale and import of communication equipment from Huawei, ZTE, Hikvision, Dahua, and Hytera.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s members voted unanimously on 25 November this year to ban Chinese communications equipment such as security cameras and two-way radios. They claim they have taken this action in order to protect American citizens and ensure that no “untrustworthy” equipment enters the US. However, there is no definitive proof onwhether or not the technology is in any way “untrustworthy”.
Huawei, Hikvision, and others deny giving the Chinese Government data from the US. Hikvision says that the ban “will do nothing to protect US national security, but will do a great deal to make it more harmful and more expensive for US small businesses, local authorities, school districts, and individual consumers to protect themselves, their homes, businesses and property.”
Song Liuping, Huawei’s chief legal officer, said that “The US government has never presented real evidence to show that Huawei is a national security threat. That’s because this evidence does not exist.” Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson at China’s foreign ministry, thinks that the US is abusing state power in an attempt to reduce the influence of Chinese companies.
In contrast, Jessica Rosenworcel, chairwoman of the FCC, claims that FCC is protecting national security by ensuring that untrustworthy communications equipment is not authorized for use in the US. Whether or not these claims are true, the ban will likely make things harder for people in the US. This begs the question, does the FCC really care about the citizens, or do they care more about an ongoing vendetta with China?
Ajit Pai, also an FCC chairman, claims that “independent entities have identified numerous security vulnerabilities in Huawei equipment and found it to be less secure than that of other companies – perhaps deliberately so;” a quote that possibly proves the US has no definite proof per the usage of the word “perhaps”, and definitely proves that Pai can dodge questions better than a politician.
The five companies can continue the import and selling of products previously approved for sale in the US. The FCC states that this may be changed, and that approved products may be revoked.
The US’s fears of Chinese spying started in Obama’s presidency, grew during Trumps, and is still continuing under Biden’s presidency.