China’s Huawei Poses Threat To India’s Security, Feel Indian Telcos; To Write To NSA Ajit Doval For Redress

India’s telecom body, TEPC, has revealed plans to write to Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Advisor, asking the government to issue a ban on import of telecom equipment made by Huawei and other similar Chinese companies, citing national security concerns, reports Business Standard (BS).

Huawei, a Chinese telecommunications major, is the largest supplier of telecom equipment in the world, with a market share of 28 per cent. However, there have been national security concerns among various nations due to the company’s proximity with the authoritarian government in China and Huawei has also been accused of circumventing sanctions by selling its equipment to North Korea and Iran.

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Countries like the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, have already banned Huawei’s network infrastructure products and many other European nations have upped the scrutiny of its equipment.

“We are drafting a letter to the national security advisor requesting that we should consider putting restrictions on Chinese equipment based on security concerns,” R K Bhatnagar, director-general of TEPC said. He added that Huawei telecom (voice and call) equipment, which can be controlled remotely from outside India, has been deployed by many PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings) and even in sensitive regions like the Northeast.

It should be noted that China claims a sovereign right over India’s Arunachal Pradesh and has occupied Aksai Chin area of J&K in India.