Juncker on Huawei in Europe: We Don’t Reject it ‘Just Because it's Chinese’

© REUTERS / GREG BAKERSigns are displayed at the Huawei stand at the Shanghai Auto Show in Shanghai on 17 April, 2019
Signs are displayed at the Huawei stand at the Shanghai Auto Show in Shanghai on 17 April, 2019 - Sputnik International
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The move comes after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned earlier this month that Washington may scrap its cooperation with some “important strategic partners” who use Huawei systems.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has announced that he will not prevent Chinese companies like the tech giant Huawei from doing business with Europe if they stick to market norms.

“We are not rejecting someone because he is coming from faraway, because he is Chinese, the rules have to be respected”, Juncker told reporters when asked about the US demand to restrict Huawei’s participation in creating 5G mobile network in Europe and America.

READ MORE: Huawei CEO Offers Germany 'No-Spy Deal' to Address Security Concerns — Reports

The statement comes a day after the Daily Mail cited a US government source as saying that officials in Washington are considering an attempt to dissuade UK Prime Minister Theresa May from letting Huawei take part in building her country's future 5G mobile phone network.

"We have our concerns and we continue to engage with the UK government on the issue", the officials said.

This followed the UK National Security Council, which is chaired by Prime Minister Theresa May, agreeing to allow Huawei limited access “to help build parts of the 5G network such as antennas and other ‘noncore’ infrastructure”.

Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that she is opposed to excluding Huawei or any other company from development of the country’s 5G mobile network just because it comes from a certain country.

READ MORE: Huawei Sales Top $100bn Despite US-Led Trade War, Smear Campaign Against Company

The US, Australia, and New Zealand have already banned Huawei from developing their 5G networks, citing security threats. Washington also lobbies its European allies, including Germany, to follow suit and impose formal bans on Huawei products when it comes to building the next generation of wireless mobile networks.

A logo of Huawei hangs in the lobby of the Cyber Security Lab at Huawei factory in Dongguan, China's Guangdong province - Sputnik International
Germany Refuses to Tolerate US 'Blackmail' Over China's Huawei
In a separate development, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reportedly accused Huawei of being sponsored by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, the National Security Commission, and a third branch of the Chinese state intelligence network.

Washington has repeatedly claimed that Huawei has been stealing commercial information and spying on behalf of the Chinese government, allegations which the company has consistently denied.

READ MORE: China's Huawei Slams US' 'Loser's Attitude', Inability to Compete Amid Row

In early December, top Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was detained in Vancouver, Canada at the request of the US, reportedly on suspicions that she had conspired to violate Washington’s sanctions against Iran.

Her arrest was denounced by both Huawei and Beijing, with Chinese authorities demanding that Canada immediately release the Chinese national.

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