Journalists watch a trailer at the launch of new 5G Huawei products in Beijing in January (FRED DUFOUR)

Brussels (AFP) – US officials are fanning out across Europe to warn about the security risks of allowing Chinese telecoms giant Huawei to help build 5G mobile networks, a US diplomat said Tuesday.

Washington considers the matter urgent as European Union countries prepare to roll out fifth-generation networks that will bring near-instantaneous connectivity, vast data capacity and futuristic technologies.

“We are urging folks not to rush ahead and sign contracts with untrusted suppliers from countries like China,” a US State Department official told reporters in Brussels.

The official said he was meeting EU officials as well as those in Belgium, France and Germany, while colleagues will be travelling to Spain and elsewhere to underline US concerns.

“Going with an untrusted supplier like Huawei or ZTE will have all sorts of ramifications for your national security,” he warned, speaking on condition of anonymity.

It could also undermine intellectual property protection, privacy and human rights, he added. 

He said Washington’s priority was warning Europe where strong alliances make the “national security component even more compelling from the US point of view.”

In December, European Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip echoed US warnings about the threat posed by Huawei and ZTE who — under a 2017 Chinese cybersecurity law — are required to cooperate with Beijing’s intelligence services.

Speaking on Tuesday, Ansip said the Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, can play a limited coordinating role.

“National security is up to the member states,” the former Estonian premier told reporters. 

“If the member states ask to coordinate, to take the common approach, then historically the Commission has always done so. We will do so if asked,” Ansip said.

Huawei strenuously denies its equipment could be used for espionage.

The commercial stakes are high.

– High stakes –

Experts say Huawei is between six months and one year ahead of Sweden’s Ericsson in terms of the quality of its 5G equipment.

Finland’s Nokia is said to be even further behind.

Several operators have already begun tests in French cities with Huawei equipment, such as France’s Bouygues Telecom and SFR.

Deutsche Telekom, in an internal document obtained by Bloomberg, warned that Europe could fall behind China and the United States by as much as two years if it forgoes using Huawei’s 5G equipment. 

The US diplomat said Washington was motivated by security rather than commercial interests, adding that Ericsson, Nokia and Korea’s Samsung would benefit from a Huawei ban — and not US firms.

A Commission spokesperson told AFP on condition of anonymity that no further EU regulation was planned to tackle the risks from Huawei.

“We have EU procurement rules in place, and we have the investment screening proposal to protect European interests,” the spokesperson said.

Under procurement rules, contracting authorities may reject “unjustifiably low” bids.

Under EU agreements with third countries, parties may adopt any measure to protect their “essential” security interests.

Member countries can block deals with economic operators from third countries for military electronic equipment and security-related purchases involving or containing classified information.

Under screening rules yet to come into force, the commission and the member states cooperate in assessing cyber-security and other risks posed by foreign investments.

During a visit to Tokyo, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said there was a “big debate” in Germany about using Huawei equipment.

Germany has taken a prudent approach so far, with the country’s IT watchdog saying it had seen no evidence Huawei could use its equipment to spy for Beijing.

In Brussels, Ansip warned: “If we await until there is enough solid evidence in the public record, it would be too late.”

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