Huawei offers to open up its development labs to quell spying fears
Huawei has said it will welcome Western requests to see its product development process as it hits back at allegations its products could be used for spying.
The Chinese technology giant's chairman Liang Hua told reporters at Davos Huawei complies “fully ... with local laws and regulation” and said it would let observers in to see its product labs.
Mr Liang has been serving as Huawei's acting chief financial officers after the arrest of its former CFO Meng Wanzhou, who was detained in Canada amid allegations of breaches of US sanctions.
Huawei has been attempting to put an end to claims its technology presents a security risk, even as it is beset by concerns from US intelligence agencies that the company could present an Chinese espionage threat. The company has always denied the allegations.
The telecoms company already works with UK security specialists at the Huawei's Cyber Security Evaluation Centre, which is overseen by the head of GCHQ's cyber security division. Huawei has recently added a similar set up in Germany.
US security agencies have repeatedly accused Huawei of presenting a spying risk. Meanwhile, federal authorities have stepped up an investigation into stealing intellectual property.
Mr Liang said he had “every confidence” in the Canadian legal process after the arrest of Ms Meng in December.
US authorities are said to be moving ahead to extradite Ms Meng over charges the company skirted sanctions on Iran, according to Canadian media reports.
China has since arrested two Canadians who have been detained since Ms Meng's arrest.
Huawei has said that, despite the backlash from the US, that it has still won a number of contracts for new faster 5G data services.
Liang said: “We offer better services to our customers on 5G. It is the customers’ choice if they don’t choose Huawei and we will focus our efforts on those customers who do choose us.”
