The Australian government risks damaging relations with its largest trading partner because of revelations it will not let the company building its high speed broadband network buy equipment from Chinese firm Huawei, according to an article carried by Stock and Land.
Senior officials from Australia’s’ Attorney-General’s department said last December that Huawei would not win any supply contracts with NBN Co because of national security concerns, according to the chairman of Huawei’s local board, John Lord.
Last night ABC’s 7.30 said the ban was based on ASIO reports sent to cabinet’s security subcommittee, and that Huawei noticed frostier government relations following a visit by US President Barack Obama to Australia last year.
State-owned China Radio National yesterday said ”the justifications for banning Huawei are very flimsy”. ”In fact, the reasons are ridiculous … Huawei is openly fighting back through every available channel and it is not the first time that the company has been unfairly treated due to so-called national security concerns.”
The Australia government refuses to reveal the exact reasons for Huawei’s exclusion, but a spokesman for Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said that ”as a strategic and significant government investment, we have a responsibility to do our utmost to protect [NBN’s] integrity and that of the information carried on it”.
Full story at Stock and Land
