The following is the conclusion to our series about Huawei, the Chinese telecom giant. I wrote this paper while I was working on my Master’s Degree at Penn State and believe that is relevant today given the simmering tensions with China. In my opinion, this paper is a tangible example of the Non-Kinetic War that China is waging against us that we previously discussed here. Click the links for Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 and Part 4.
Conclusion
The fifth generation of wireless technology has the potential of faster speeds, reduced delays and an increase in connectivity. 5G could make possible autonomous vehicles, the Internet of Things and industrial controls that are not capable in the 4G world. But such promise does no come without risk, for each 5G equipped device has the potential to be used to invade privacy and provide an opening for our adversaries. Rigorous formal analysis of equipment and processes must be completed to ensure adequate security measures are in place. The rigorous analysis must also consider the manufacturer of key components to ensure that access to information cannot be easily attained as U.S. lawmakers have expressed major concerns about Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei. Huawei is on the leading edge of technology and is already used in more than 140 countries. As a major Chinese company, it is considered likely that the Chinese Government plays a significant role in its success beyond the founder Ren Zhengfei’s history as a senior official in the People’s Liberation Army and membership in the Chinese Communist party. U.S. prosecutors have demonstrated that Huawei has a history of stealing trade secrets, covering up their transgressions and are currently under indictment for multiple charges of money laundering, bank fraud and conspiracy. In addition, they have reportedly circumvented sanctions imposed on North Korea and Iran, providing the countries with telecom equipment that can be used for extensive spying on populations. Huawei products have been banned for use in the U.S. Government and face similar bans in Australia, Japan and New Zealand over security concerns. Even if Huawei did not build back doors into their components that enabled spying they would be compelled by Chinese law to hand over any and all network data if the Chinese Government asked for it. U.S. national security officials must be prepared for a future in which the Chinese firm Huawei will have a major share of the advanced global telecommunications market, and plan to thwart potential espionage and disruptive cyberattacks enabled by interconnected networks. The U.S. must continue to pressure allies not to use equipment manufactured by Huawei and consider limiting access to critical intelligence to countries that use their products. Huawei and its participation in the next generation 5G network poses a national security threat that has the potential to destabilize traditional alliances and information sharing that is critical to national security.
Update
Since the bulk of this paper was written almost a year ago. I think that it is important to take a look at how things stand now. Has the U.S. Government had success limiting Huawei and their push to be the technological leader in 5G and does Huawei really pose a security threat?
The Pentagon thinks so as they have issued a ban on two Chinese made cell phones produced by Huawei and ZTE determining that they present an unacceptable risk. (Nichols, 2020) The Trump administration has continued to argue that Huawei should be banned from building the 5G networks and allowing them access to this infrastructure is has the potential to be used to spy or shut down communications. (Dilanian, 2020) But some of the U.S.’s closes allies have disagreed and in January of 2020, Britain announced that they would allow Huawei to build certain parts of the their Network. (Dilanian, 2020) In a response, Joseph Trevithick reports that the “ U.S. mulls pulling spy planes from Britain, not basing F-35s there over Huawei 5G plans.” (2020) In addition to the F-35s, the U.S. may reconsider the deployment of RC-135 Spy Planes and threatens information sharing of the 5eyes intelligence network. (Trevithick, 2020) The Johnson administration of Great Britain has continued to argue however, that the economic needs will have to be weighed against the security concerns and that Huawei will only comprise 35percent ‘edge of network’ components not ‘core’ components. (Glees, 2020) In addition, it appears that, “Huawei is winning the argument in Europe, as Germany seems poised to follow Britain in letting the Chinese maker build next-generation networks.” (Sanger and McCabe, 2020) In a response to limit the impact of these decisions, the U.S. has sought to restrict the sale of critical technology and banning U.S. companies from working with Huawei. (Sanger and McCabe, 2020) In short, the U.S. may need to rethink how they approach Europe and our other allies to limit the threat posed by Huawei because their current efforts do not seem to be working.
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