Huawei ban, delay unrelated to China seizing the two Michaels: minister – National
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said he wanted to “decouple” the idea that there was a link between Of China arbitrary detention two Michaelsand of Canada The decision to ban Huawei has been delayed.
At the same time, he also admitted in an interview with West areaMercedes Stephenson’s Mercedes Stephenson has “geopolitical” questions that need to be addressed before a decision is made.
“We were always anxious to achieve it but it required looking at the technology, as well as assessing the geopolitical context, as you alluded to in your introduction,” he said, referring to the section. Stephenson’s interview opening.
In it, she noted the decision after years of “geopolitical maneuvering and delays because Beijing arbitrarily detained two Canadians for more than 1,000 days.”
She then asked why the decision was being made now, months after Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were freed in September 2021 in what many saw as China’s retaliation against China. with Canada’s arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou at the behest of US authorities.
“Well, I want to make sure we get this situation out of the way with the two Michaels – and obviously we’re happy they’re coming out – in the light of these two particular actors,” Mendicino said.
“So there’s no relationship between the time spent there?” Stephen asked.
“No, there isn’t. And what we spend our time looking at is technology, looking at these two specific actors and their relationships with foreign governments,” he said.
“We took the time we needed to make the right decision.”
Canada has probed Huawei equipment since about 2013 but in 2018 released a national security review on how to secure 5G networks, which also looked at Huawei.
In May 2019, former public safety minister Ralph Goodale announced a decision likely to happen before the federal election in September 2019, but in June of that year said it would be delayed.
Canada arrested Meng in December 2019, and within days, China detained Kovrig and Spavor.
The two men were released on September 25, 2021, and just three days later, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that he expected Canada’s decision on Huawei to be made “” within the next few weeks. “
Eight months later, Canadians now have their answer: Huawei and ZTE, a state-owned Chinese company, will be banned from participating in Canada’s telecommunications networks.
That includes an order requiring telecom companies that already use Huawei in their 3G and 4G networks to take it apart and replace it without compensation from the government.
As Global News reported, Canadian telecommunications companies purchased $700 million worth of Huawei equipment between 2018 and 2020 even as the company’s fate remains unclear.
Canadian telecom spends $700 million on Huawei technology while the Liberals delay the ban
Under the Huawei/ZTE policy issued by the government on Thursday, Canadian telecommunications companies must stop purchasing Huawei or ZTE equipment for their 4G or 5G networks by September 1, 2022.
“The use of new 5G equipment and managed services from Huawei and ZTE will be prohibited, and existing 5G devices and managed services must be removed or terminated by June 28, 2024.” , the policy states.
“All use of new 4G equipment and managed services from Huawei and ZTE will be prohibited and any existing 4G equipment and managed services must be removed or terminated by December 31, 2027. .”
In the meantime, any company using that equipment is required to comply with “any government-mandated assurance requirements, developed from the Communications Security Facility Security Assessment Program.” .
CSE is Canada’s signals intelligence agency responsible for the security of government networks and critical infrastructure.
Canada is the last Five Eyes ally to restrict or ban Huawei from its network.
The Chinese embassy on Friday called the decision “a mistake”.
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