Wants Portugal to “protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies”.
China said today it expects Portugal to adopt ‘rational’ and ‘autonomous’ policies after a Portuguese government advisory body ruled the de facto exclusion of Chinese companies from the development of communication networks. fifth generation (5G).
“We hope the Portuguese side will make rational political choices independently and adhere to the creation of an open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment,” said a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement sent to Lusa in Beijing, adding that ‘building walls and barriers’ and ‘breaking ties’ only ‘harms the most vulnerable’.
“Mutually beneficial cooperation is the only right way,” the statement said.
Last month, the Security Assessment Commission, under the aegis of the Portuguese Superior Council for Cyberspace Security, published a deliberation on the “high risk” for the security of 5G networks and services related to the use equipment from suppliers who, among other criteria, come from outside the European Union, NATO or the OECD and whose “legal system of the country in which they are domiciled allows the government to exercise control interference or pressure on their activities operating in third countries”.
The decision did not name any companies or countries, but it came after years of pressure on allied nations from the United States to exclude Chinese technology from telecommunications infrastructure.
Washington points to China’s National Intelligence Law, which states that “all organizations and citizens must support, assist, and cooperate with the state in matters of national intelligence,” Lusa said.
Huawei has since categorically refuted the charges, pointing out that Chinese law “does not require Huawei to install hidden mechanisms in networks or equipment that allow unauthorized access to data and information”.
But that didn’t really cut the mustard.
Other countries, including the UK, Australia and Sweden, have already banned Huawei from participating in the development of their 5G networks, while the EU is reportedly considering a mandatory ban on member states that fail to act. the same way.
The move comes amid growing concern in Brussels that some national governments are dragging their feet on the issue, officials told the Financial Times.
EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton told the bloc’s telecoms ministers at a meeting last week that only a third of EU countries have banned critical parts of the bloc’s 5G communications from Huawei, despite recommendations (and warnings) from Brussels. ” It’s not enough. And that exposes the collective security of the union,” he said.
Yet today’s statement from the Chinese government clearly shows the aim is to persuade Portugal to rethink its decision.
“We expect the Portuguese side to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and adopt practical measures to attract foreign investment and expand cooperation opportunities,” the report said.
The statement could well be a precursor to news that Chinese companies operating in Portugal can be used to pressure the government if this “soft, soft approach” does not work.
This article is originally published on vivreleportugal.com