From: Government Security News
By: Mark Rockwell
The leaders of the House Intelligence Committee plan to question executives from Huawei and ZTE on Sept. 13 about national security concerns with the Chinese companies’ telecommunications equipment.
The rare open hearing, “National Security Threats Posed by Chinese Telecom Companies Working in the U.S.” is set for Sept. 13 at 10 in the U.S. Capitol.
In early 2011, committee chairman Mike Rogers (R-MI) and ranking member Charles Alber “Dutch” Ruppersberger (D-MD) instructed committee staff to conduct a preliminary review of the national security threats posed by Chinese telecom companies doing business in the U.S.
Lawmakers and intelligence officials are concerned about possible use of Huawei and ZTE telecommunications equipment purchased by U.S. telecommunications carriers to spy on U.S. targets, specifically using the embedded equipment to track calls, email and other electronic communications.
“The preliminary review,” said Rogers and Ruppersberger, “suggested the threat to the supply chain constitutes a rising national security concern of the highest priority.”
On November 17, 2011, the House Intelligence Committee launched a full investigation, focusing on the two main Chinese telecom companies doing business in the U.S., Huawei and ZTE.
The focus of the investigation, which is still underway, is to review the history and operations of key Chinese companies that are seeking to expand their footprint in the U.S. market, said Rogers and Ruppersberger. The investigation, they said, is reviewing the extent to which the companies have ties to the Chinese government, or provide the Chinese government an opportunity for greater foreign espionage, threaten critical infrastructure, or increase the opportunities for Chinese economic espionage.
Leave a Reply