Beijing cautions the EU that its proposed telecom supplier ban is protectionist and warns of necessary measures to safeguard Chinese companies’ rights.
BEIJING: China has warned the European Union against proceeding with plans to ban “high-risk” foreign telecoms suppliers.
Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the move amounts to protectionism by the bloc.
“We urge the EU to avoid going further down the wrong path of protectionism, otherwise, China will inevitably take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises,” Guo told a news conference.
He warned that the EU plans would incur “huge” economic costs.
“It is naked protectionism. Behaviour that wantonly interferes in the market and goes against the laws of economics not only fails to achieve so-called security but also incurs huge costs,” he said.
The EU unveiled the proposal as part of plans to revise its cybersecurity rules to bolster defences against cyber attacks.
It did not name any country or company, but has taken an increasingly tough stance on trade with China, often citing security concerns.
The plans would see the EU block third-country companies from European mobile networks if they are deemed a security risk.
This builds on previous 2023 measures that saw Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE excluded from networks.
Brussels took the new step after the 2023 measures failed to yield enough change across the 27-country bloc.
