Huawei's decision to file a lawsuit against the U.S. government has been viewed as a good chance for the Chinese tech giant to prove that it is still worthy of trust.
A South China Morning Post editorial published on Monday said Huawei's move was necessary as it could help disprove the U.S. government's claims that the firm had been spying on its American counterpart and its products pose a huge security threat.
The Chinese tech provider's legal challenge is a good defensive line, the outlet said. It could also encourage other companies to display courage in the global stage amid strong competition and business or political threats.
U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Huawei and other tech companies of having close connections with the Chinese government. Huawei has repeatedly dismissed these claims despite bans on its products. America has also called on its allies to ban the firm's 5G networks.
Company Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou has been arrested due to fraud charges and other counts related to the theft of trade secrets and faces extradition to the United States. However, founder Ren Zhengfei and Beijing said the allegations are false and the U.S. government's claims were politically motivated.
At this point, only the courts can help Huawei fight its battle against the United States. Other Chinese tech firms could learn from the strength that the Shenzhen-based provider has been exemplifying since it was accused of spying and its CFO was arrested in Canada in December.
The New York Times pointed out that Trump and his administration's efforts to push other countries to ban Huawei and other Chinese tech equipment have been falling apart. Over the past few months, some of the American government's allies have dropped signs of turning back on U.S. calls to ban Huawei's next-gen networks.
The United Kingdom appears to share U.S. sentiments on security but just like India, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Germany, Britain has argued that the risks associated with 5G networks can be managed, contrary to Trump's claims.
According to the news outlet, the U.S. has not given up despite signs of a defeat in the bout against Huawei. Foreign officials have frowned at Trump's efforts especially with a lack of concrete evidence that the Chinese provider is a real threat to other governments.
Aside from contradicting claims and investigation results, some European and Asian officials stressed that the U.S. is not wholly committed to its claims. Although indirectly, Trump has suggested that charges against Meng could be dropped if he secures a trade with Beijing.
