China challenges US after ban on Huawei

BEIJING: China took up cudgels on Thursday against Washington after it issued an executive order restricting Huawei Technologies and 70 affiliated companies from doing business in the US. It will take “necessary measures” to safeguard the interests of the Chinese company, the Chinese foreign ministry said.
China also slapped formal charges of spying on two Canadian citizens who have been under detention for several weeks. The move follows Canada’s decision to detain a senior executive of Huawei on charges of illegal transactions.
The Trump administration barred Huawei, the world’s biggest telecom company, from receiving components from US exporters without a licence. It also issued an executive order that begins the process of banning the company from selling in the US. The move might delay Huawei’s plans to roll out 5G technology, an area where it is ahead of its international competitors.
China has asked its businesses to comply with laws and regulations in export control, abide by local laws and fulfil their international obligations while operating in foreign countries, foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said.
“But we are against other countries’ unilateral sanctions based on domestic law and practices that abuse export control measures,” he said, adding, “We urge the US to stop such practices and create favourable conditions for business cooperation. China will take necessary measures to safeguard Chinese business’ legitimate rights and interests”.
China will not use the retaliatory path punishing American companies, he said. “As for the foreign firms, so long as their operations are lawful, they should not be concerned. In international trade, the basis is mutual respect and mutual benefit,” Lu said.
Huawei reacted, saying, “Restricting Huawei from doing business in the US will not make the US more secure or stronger; instead, this will only serve to limit the US to inferior yet more expensive alternatives”.
The telecom giant added, "In addition, unreasonable restrictions will infringe upon Huawei’s rights and raise other serious legal issues”.
One of the Canadian citizens to face formal charges is Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat who has been charged with “gathering state secrets and intelligence for abroad”. The second one is a business consultant, Michael Spavor, who has been accused of “stealing and providing state secrets for abroad,” Lu said.
Earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had criticized the initial detentions, describing them as arbitrary and “politically motivated”.