US Defense Department claims Huawei ‘owned or backed by Chinese military’
The US Defense Department (DoD) has claimed that 20 top Chinese firms, including Huawei, are either owned by or backed by the Chinese military.
The US DoD resolution could potentially lay the groundwork for new US financial sanctions against the firms.
The list, seen by US news media, reportedly features video surveillance firm Hikvision, China Telecoms, China Mobile and AVIC.
The move comes as the US has pressured its closest allies, including the UK, to bar Huawei for national security reasons.
It is understood that the DoD list has been published in order to inform US congressional committees, as well as investors about the role such firms may allegedly play in transferring sensitive technology to the Chinese military. Under US regulation, the DoD is required to track firms “owned or controlled” by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) that are active in the US territory.
The Pentagon has been under significant pressure in recent months both the Democrats and Republican parties lawmakers to publish and update the list. The list is expected to grow.
