China Urges US to Stop ‘Unreasonable Bashing’ of Huawei as Hill Ramps Up Scrutiny

China is “highly concerned” about DOJ’s 13-count indictment against Huawei and Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on bank fraud, obstruction of justice and other allegations (see 1901280052), said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tuesday. Meanwhile, legislators ramped up scrutiny. The U.S. uses its “national power” to “tarnish and crack down on specific Chinese companies in an attempt to strangle their lawful and legitimate operations,” said China's spokesperson. “Behind such practices are deep political intentions and manipulations.” In detaining Meng in Vancouver in early December, the U.S. and Canada “abused their bilateral extradition agreement and took compulsory measures against a Chinese citizen for no reason,” the spokesperson said. The U.S. should “immediately withdraw” Meng’s arrest warrant, “refrain from making a formal extradition request, and stop going further down the wrong path,” he said. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., pressed national security officials during Tuesday's Senate Armed Services Committee hearing about Huawei and ZTE's national security threat. Wicker earlier praised the indictments. Commerce is “taking a hard look" at Huawei given its “activities and impact on developing technologies, such as 5G and autonomous vehicles, as well as network security and consumer data protection,” he said. Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., welcomed the indictments, “which detail the company’s brazen efforts to steal corporate trade secrets, commit fraud, and obstruct justice.” Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., said it's a “reminder that we need to take seriously the risks of doing business with companies like Huawei and allowing them access to our markets, and I will continue to strongly urge our ally Canada to reconsider Huawei’s inclusion in any aspect of its 5G infrastructure.” Commerce Security Subcommittee Chairman Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, tweeted the indictments show "just one more example of Chinese businesses unwilling to play by the rules." The panel "will be conducting serious oversight of these Chinese threats to the U.S. economy," he said.