'China Won't Let Firms Be Used Like Silent Lambs'

Foreign Minister Wang Yi has given strong backing to tech giant Huawei, saying Beijing will back Chinese companies and citizens in their fight to protect their rights and their refusal to be "victimised like silent lambs".

"The recent action against a particular Chinese company and individual is by no means a pure judicial case, but a deliberate political move to bring them down," he said.

"China has and will continue to take all necessary measures to resolutely protect the legitimate and lawful interests of Chinese businesses and citizens," the minister said.

Huawei has launched a lawsuit against the US government over a defence ordinance that bars its government agencies from using Huawei equipment and services.

Speaking on the sidelines of the annual National People’s Congress meetings in Beijing, the central government’s top diplomat said it’s obvious Huawei has come under political persecution.

The Trump administration is trying to extradite Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive and daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, from Canada. Meng was detained on December 1 when she arrived in Vancouver after the US issued a warrant for her arrest.