Do not underestimate our strength, Ren Zhengfei tells US

Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei today brushed off US attempts to block Huawei global ambitions, saying the United States underestimates the telecom giant’s strength. Ren Zhengfei while spoke to the Chinese media days after President Donald Trump issued orders aimed at thwarting Huawei’s business in the United States, the latest salvo in a months-long effort to stop the company’s charge to the top of the leaderboard in next-generation 5G technology. “The current practice of US politicians underestimates our strength,” Ren Zhengfei said, according to transcripts from state-run media. “Huawei’s 5G will absolutely not be affected. In terms of 5G technologies, others won’t be able to catch up with Huawei in two or three years,” he said. Last week, Trump declared a “national emergency” empowering him to blacklist companies seen as “an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States” — a move analysts said was clearly aimed at Huawei. At the same time, the US Commerce Department announced an effective ban on American companies selling or transferring US technology to Huawei. First reported by Reuters, Google has limited its business with Huawei in a move that would prevent Huawei from bringing Google’s suite of popular services — including apps like the Play Store and Gmail — to its future smartphones. The decision also means that Google will no longer work with Huawei to provide Android syste But the Commerce Department on Monday issued a 90-day reprieve on the ban on the transfer of technology by allowing temporary licences. Responding to the US Commerce Department Ren said; “The US 90-day temporary licence does not have much impact on us, we are ready.” Zhengfei Ren said Huawei and Google are discussing how to respond to the ban, calling the US firm a “highly responsible company”. A company spokesman in Australia said the US actions “will not impact consumers” with a Huawei tablet or smartphone in the country, or those planning to buy a device in the future. As for Huawei’s access to key components, Zhengfei Ren said half of chips used in the company’s equipment come from the United States and the other half it makes itself. “We cannot be isolated from the world,” Zhengfei Ren said. “We can also make the same chips as the US chips, but it doesn’t mean we won’t buy them,” he added. The Huawei confrontation has been building for years, as the company has raced to a huge advantage over rivals in next-generation 5G mobile technology. US intelligence believes Huawei is backed by the Chinese military and that its equipment could provide Beijing’s intelligence services with a backdoor into the communications networks of rival countries. For that reason, Washington has pushed its closest allies to reject Huawei technology, a significant challenge given the few alternatives for 5G. While Australia has also banned Huawei from its 5G plans, the US has struggled to sway some countries, with Britain having reportedly approved a limited role for the Chinese company to help build a 5G network in the country. Canada has been dragged into the battle. Its arrest of Zhengfei Ren’s daughter, Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, in December on a US extradition bid linked to Iran sanctions violations was followed by the arrest in China of two Canadians, including a former diplomat. The battle over Huawei has added to tensions in a trade war that has escalated between the world’s top two economies, with both sides exchanging steep increases in tariffs as negotiations have faltered. Asked how long Huawei may face difficult times, Zhengfei Ren said: “You may need to ask Trump about this question, not me.”