Just now! Canada officially banned Huawei and ZTE 5G equipment, saying they threaten "national security"

Just now, the Canadian government announced a ban on the use of Huawei 5G communications.

Canada's Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Francois-Philippe Champagne, said Huawei posed a threat to national security.

In addition to the ban, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said legislation would be introduced "in a very short time."

It is reported that the new legislation is an amendment to the Telecommunications Act to support Canada's telecommunications system in resisting national security risks such as finance, telecommunications, energy and transportation.

Also banned is ZTE, and the equipment that has already been installed will be deactivated and removed.

Double sanctions of ban + decree

According to local media reports, the Canadian government issued this "policy statement" mainly based on comprehensive considerations.

Canada claims that 5G will bring massively enhanced data capacity, will connect billions of devices, and will serve as the foundation for other technologies, the digital economy and critical infrastructure, so Canada needs to ensure its security.

Canada has determined that Huawei and ZTE have complied with the extralegal instructions of foreign governments in a manner that violates Canadian law or is contrary to Canadian interests.

Canada said it was increasingly difficult to cope with testing of network equipment by potential suppliers, given international supply chain dynamics and concerns of its allies.

The specific timeline of this ban is roughly as follows:

Stop purchasing new 4G or 5G equipment and services from Huawei and ZTE by September 2022.

Stop using any new or existing 5G equipment and services from Huawei and ZTE by June 2024.

Stop using any new or existing 4G equipment and services from Huawei and ZTE by December 2027.

In an interview with Canadian mainstream media CTV, Champagne, Canada's Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, elaborated on the ban, saying, "Think about the Internet of Things, think about self-driving cars, we all know the decentralized nature of network connections, and we need to protect our networks."

Public Safety Minister Mendicino unveiled the new legislation, saying: "This new legislation will establish a framework to better protect systems critical to our national security and provide the government with a new tool to combat emerging cyber threats."

The new legislation follows a series of government investigations, which Mendicino said were "meticulously conducted and performed all the due diligence necessary to protect our national security."

"The transition to 5G will bring faster speeds and better connectivity, however, with it comes the concern that malicious actors will be more difficult to defend against exploiting vulnerabilities, and these incidents will have a wider impact than previous generations of wireless technology," Mendicino said.

“In the 21st century, cybersecurity is national security,” said Mendicino. “From cyberattacks to electronic espionage to ransomware, Canadians face greater threats than ever before, and we will protect them.”

"Against this backdrop, we must ensure the security of Canada's telecommunications systems," Mendicino said.

It is understood that this was a decision made by Canada after consultation with its "allies", and Canada's decision came later than expected by the outside world.

The "Five Eyes Alliance" is an intelligence-sharing alliance that includes the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Other countries have banned the above equipment.

China: The concept of "national security" is seriously generalized

In response to Canada's ban on Huawei's participation in 5G network construction, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Canada responded yesterday and stated China's attitude.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Canada said, "On May 19, the Canadian government announced a ban on the use of Huawei and ZTE products and services in Canadian telecommunications systems on the grounds of so-called national security, and said that this was a decision made after evaluation by Canadian security departments and consultation with Canada's allies. China expresses serious concern and strong dissatisfaction with this."

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Canada said: "The Chinese government has always required Chinese companies to conduct foreign economic cooperation on the basis of abiding by international rules and local laws. Huawei and ZTE have always maintained a very good cybersecurity record. Without any solid evidence, the Canadian side decided to exclude relevant Chinese companies from the Canadian market on the grounds of so-called national security. This seriously generalizes the concept of national security, violates the principles of market economy and free trade rules, and damages the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies. The Canadian side claims that it has consulted with its allies on the above decision. To put it bluntly, it is to cooperate with the United States to suppress Chinese companies. The so-called "security" considerations of the Canadian side are nothing more than a cover for political manipulation."

The Chinese Embassy in Canada said, "I want to emphasize that Canada's wrong actions will inevitably damage Canada's international image and its own interests. China will comprehensively and seriously evaluate this incident and take all necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies."

For this reason, Alykhan Velshi, head of Huawei's Canadian branch, said, "The company is obviously disappointed with this move."

He said the "so-called 'ban' actually only targets a small and declining portion of our business in Canada."

"The tech giant will carefully analyze the upcoming legislation to ensure it complies with the Canada-China foreign investment protection agreement, but at least in the short term, Huawei will still have a role in Canada's telecommunications networks," Velshi said.

“Yes, even its 5G network as we are currently deploying the software with our telecom partners,” Velshi added.

Velshi said, “Huawei currently has 1,500 employees in Canada, mainly engaged in research and development, and selling products such as mobile phones.”​