US Ups Pressure On Germany Over Huawei

The US upped pressure on Europe on Wednesday to avoid turning to Huawei for 5G telecom infrastructure, with a top commander saying Nato forces would cease communicating with their German colleagues if Berlin teams up with the Chinese firm.

The US and several other Western nations, fearful of the security risks posed by a company closely tied to the Chinese government, have shut Huawei out of tenders for the development of super-fast fifth-generation, or 5G, networks.

"We're concerned about their telecommunications backbone being compromised in the sense that, particularly with 5G, the bandwidth capability and ability to pull data is incredible," US General Curtis Scaparrotti, Nato's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, told US lawmakers.

"If it also is inside of their defence communications, then we're not going to communicate with them" across those systems, the general said before the House Armed Services Committee.

"And for the military, that would be a problem."

Scaparrotti's comments came during questioning about trade talks in Europe, and Germany in particular, with Chinese telecom groups such as Huawei.

The company has been charged by the US justice department of stealing trade secrets, obstructing a criminal investigation and evading economic sanctions on Iran.

Its 5G equipment is reputed to be much further advanced than those of rivals Ericsson and Nokia, which has made it attractive for mobile operators looking to quickly roll out new networks.

The next-generation systems will bring near-instantaneous connectivity that can enable futuristic technologies such as self-driving cars.

Chinese law obliges companies headquartered in the country to provide technical assistance to intelligence services, but Huawei has strenuously denied allegations its equipment could be used for espionage.

Kathryn Wheelbarger, acting US assistant secretary of defence for international affairs, told the committee Huawei represents a "threat" to Europe.

"I can assure you that in all our conversations with all our European partners, we make very clear the threat of Chinese investment or development of the telecommunications infrastructure in Europe," Wheelbarger said.

These concerns relate to the "security of our communications, both private... as well as military," she said.

The two Pentagon officials refused to give further details in public about their concerns, telling elected officials they would discuss the subject in depth during a later closed session.

Germany is due to launch auctions in mid-March for future mobile telecommunications infrastructure. (AFP)