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The administration of US President Donald Trump on Tuesday tightened the rules on the importation, marketing and sales of new Chinese telecoms gear in the United States, a move set to haunt bilateral relations ahead of the summit of the top leaders later this week. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to block new approvals for devices with parts from companies on its “Covered List“ and also to allow it to bar previously approved equipment in certain cases. It means that devices produced by Huawei Technologies, Hikvision and other Chinese companies could be excluded from America’s communications networks, as they are deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to national security. “Many of these devices are closely tied to foreign adversaries, like China, and can allow the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] to surveil Americans, disrupt communications networks, and otherwise threaten US national security,” according to an online statement released by the regulator. “The new rules will close the modular transmitter loophole – meaning that certain insecure Huawei, Hikvision, or other Covered List modular transmitters could no longer be included as components within otherwise lawful or authorised devices,” it added. The move came as the US has long been reviewing its exposure to national security, particularly with Chinese telecoms equipment makers. It is part of Washington’s all-around assessment of its ties with China. It is not the first time that Chinese telecoms companies are targeted. Earlier this month, the US telecoms regulator said it was moving to revoke the authority of leading Hong Kong telecoms carrier HKT, a subsidiary of PCCW, to operate in the US, citing national security concerns. John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, said the FCC move will close loopholes exploited by China and make American infrastructure more secure, accusing Chinese telecoms companies of being a government tool and posing a threat to cybersecurity. “Telecommunications providers and equipment makers are vital to the infrastructure of our nation, and Americans depend on having safe, secure and reliable connections for everything they do,” he said. “That’s why we cannot be dependent on Chinese suppliers for this equipment.”
