Portugal has rejected the United State's call for it to ban the use of equipment and services from Chinese companies, including those from Huawei Technologies. Senior Portuguese officials told their US counterparts that they will be proceeding with plans to form partnerships with Chinese companies for the country's next-generation 5G wireless network development.
Portuguese officials responded to warnings issued by the US on Thursday, where US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Portugal to reconsider its decision. Pompeo alleged that the Chinese government will "not hesitate" to use Huawei and other Chinese firms to spy on foreign countries and access sensitive data. Pompeo issued the warnings at a news conference with Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva.
When addressed with questions regarding the matter, Silva stated that they still have to review all of the bids from different 5G operators before they make a decision. All of the bids will apparently have to pass the strict Portuguese and EU regulations before they are even considered. Silva clarified that they are not heeding the US' warnings and that all foreign bidders are welcome.
Portugal does have a standing relationship with Huawei following a a partnership that was formed with the country's leading wireless carrier Altice-Portugal last year. The Portuguese company partnered with Huawei to help it roll out its 5G wireless network, which it plans to launch in 2020.
Portugal and other European countries have recently been caught in the middle of the year-long spat between the United States and China. The US has repeatedly accused China of using companies such as Huawei to spy on other countries. The US has already imposed strict sanctions and restrictions against Huawei and other Chinese firms, barring them from doing business with their US counterparts.
Apart from Portugal, other European countries that have resisted the US' call includes Germany, Hungary, and the United Kingdom. The European countries had mentioned that they have found no concrete evidence that the Chinese government was using Chinese-made equipment for espionage.
The European Union as a whole is still split in its stance in barring the use of Chinese-made equipment. The continued use of Huawei's equipment and services in developing 5G networks has strained relations between the US and the EU. The EU has started to take more serious steps to ensure that all equipment and services used are secure, in a likely attempt to appease both sides.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson mentioned on Wednesday that the country will be taking a tougher stance to ensure its security. The EU Council also adopted its 5G conclusions this week, stressing on the importance of cybersecurity.
