{"id":4858,"date":"2018-11-28T10:22:22","date_gmt":"2018-11-28T10:22:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.styledeals.co.uk\/blog\/huawei-nz-bars-chinese-firm-on-national-security-fears\/"},"modified":"2018-11-28T10:22:22","modified_gmt":"2018-11-28T10:22:22","slug":"huawei-nz-bars-chinese-firm-on-national-security-fears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.styledeals.co.uk\/blog\/huawei-nz-bars-chinese-firm-on-national-security-fears\/","title":{"rendered":"Huawei: NZ bars Chinese firm on national security fears"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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New Zealand has become the latest country to block a proposal to use telecoms equipment made by China’s Huawei because of national security concerns.<\/p>\n

Spark New Zealand wanted to use Huawei equipment in its 5G mobile network. <\/p>\n

However, a NZ government security agency said the deal would bring significant risks to national security.<\/p>\n

The move is part of a growing push against the involvement of Chinese technology firms on security grounds. <\/p>\n

5G networks are being built in several countries and will form the next significant wave of mobile infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Huawei, the world’s biggest producer of telecoms equipment, has faced resistance from foreign governments over the risk that its technology could be used for espionage. <\/p>\n

Telecoms firm Spark New Zealand planned to use equipment from the Chinese firm in its 5G network. <\/p>\n

The head of NZ’s Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) told Spark the proposal “would , if implemented, raise significant national security risks”, the company said. <\/p>\n

Intelligence services minister Andrew Little said Spark could work with the agency to reduce that risk.<\/p>\n

“As the GCSB has noted, this is an ongoing process. We will actively address any concerns and work together to find a way forward,” Huawei said. <\/p>\n

What other countries have concerns? <\/h2>\n

The move follows a decision by Australia to block Huaewi and Chinese firm ZTE <\/a>from providing 5G technology for the country’s wireless networks on national security grounds.<\/p>\n

The US and UK have raised concerns with Huawei, and the firm has been scrutinised in Germany, Japan and Korea. <\/p>\n

Last week the Wall Street Journal reported that the US government has been trying to persuade wireless providers to avoid using equipment from Huawei. <\/p>\n

In the UK, a security committee report in July<\/a> warned that it had “only limited assurance” that Huawei’s telecoms gear posed no threat to national security.<\/p>\n

One country is standing by Huawei: Papua New Guinea said this week it would go ahead with an agreement for Huawei to build its internet infrastructure. <\/p>\n

The Pacific nation has seen a surge in investment from China over the past decade.<\/p>\n

What are the fears? <\/h2>\n

Experts say foreign governments are increasingly worried about the risk of espionage by China, given the close ties between companies and the state. <\/p>\n

Tom Uren, visiting fellow in the International Cyber Policy Centre at Australia’s Strategic Policy Institute, said the Chinese government had “clearly demonstrated intent over many years to steal information”.<\/p>\n

“The Chinese state has engaged in a lot of cyber and other espionage and intellectual property theft,” he said. <\/p>\n