United States an ‘out-and-out eavesdropping empire’: China

China has denounced the White House for its “hypocritical” behavior, saying the United States, which even spies on its own allies, is an “out-and-out eavesdropping empire.”

“The US government has generalized the concept of national security, abused national power and unscrupulously suppressed Chinese high-tech enterprises,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in a press conference on Monday.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently designated five Chinese companies as ‘threatening’ the US national security under a 2019 law aimed at protecting American communications networks.

Zhao said such practices by Washington are in obvious violation of the market economy principles that the US itself has always advertised.

The official lambasted the White House for its “groundless” and “hypocritical” move against the Chinese firms.

“The United States has used its technological advantages and installed backdoors to carry out large-scale indiscriminate eavesdropping on other countries in the world, including its allies.”

“The United States is an out-and-out eavesdropping empire… The actions of the US have seriously harmed and threatened the security of other countries.”

The five Chinese companies designated by the FCC on Friday as threats are Huawei Technologies Co., ZTE Corp., Hytera Communications Corp., Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., and Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co.

The FCC’s acting Chair Jessica Rosenworcel has said that the US treatment of those Chinese firms could act as “meaningful guidance” that would ensure the future generation of networks to be built across the country not to “repeat the mistakes of the past or use equipment or services that will pose a threat to US national security or the security and safety of Americans.”

American firms have been prohibited from tapping an $8.3 billion government fund to purchase equipment from Huawei and ZTE.

In 2019, Washington placed Huawei, Hikvision, and other companies on its economic blacklist.

US war on China tech: Five firms accused of posing national threat

The US restricts five Chinese firms, including Huawei Technologies, over allegations of posing a national security threat.

Last week, the Chinese government slammed Washington after the administration of President Joe Biden reportedly tightened rules on dealing with Huawei, restricting American companies from providing Huawei with products that can be used for developing 5G technology in the new generation of mobile data networks.

The administration of Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, blacklisted Huawei to block the tech giant from winning any US telecom equipment contracts and prevent the transfer of American technology to the Chinese firm.

Trump’s administration accused Huawei of providing Beijing with a way to spy on communications from the countries that use its products and services.

Huawei, however, said the restrictions were “part of an attempt to irrevocably damage Huawei’s reputation and its business for reasons related to competition rather than law enforcement.”

The issue of technology giants is not the only bone of contention involving Beijing and Washington.

The two countries are at loggerheads over other matters such as Hong Kong and Taiwan, US military patrols and navigation in the East and South China Seas, the coronavirus pandemic and the theft of corporate secrets resulting in shuttering of diplomatic consulates on both sides.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk