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Japan to stop buying Huawei, ZTE equipment

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A man walks by a Huawei logo at a shopping mall in Shanghai, China, Dec. 6. Reuters
A man walks by a Huawei logo at a shopping mall in Shanghai, China, Dec. 6. Reuters

By Jung Min-ho

Japan is set to ban government use of telecom products from Huawei and ZTE over national security concerns surrounding the Chinese companies.

Relevant government agencies will likely reach an agreement as early as Monday to ban the companies from taking part in government procurement, according to
local media.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the move was aimed at preventing cyberattacks and the leaking of confidential information.

"Ensuring the cyber security of government agencies has become increasingly important. We will deal with the matter from various perspectives," he said.

Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya also pledged efforts to ensure security.

The move comes days after Meng Wanzhou, 46, the chief financial officer and daughter of founder Ren Zhengfei, was arrested in Vancouver, from where she may well be extradited to the United States. She is suspected of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran.

The news has touched off a diplomatic firestorm between the two world's largest economies as well as their allies.

In recent months, governments in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand have banned the use of equipment from the Chinese companies in their 5G infrastructure rollout. Other countries, including Canada, are considering the same move.


Jung Min-ho mj6c2@koreatimes.co.kr


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