Warner, Rubio Seek Intelligence Report on Role of China in 5G Standards Bodies

Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., urged Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats to issue a “detailed and unclassified report” on participation of China and “other adversarial nations” in the international standard-setting bodies (ISSBs) affecting 5G technology. President Donald Trump's recent comments about 5G and Chinese telecom equipment manufacturers Huawei and ZTE caused confusion about his future actions (see 1902210057). Senate Intelligence “has heard anecdotal concerns that China is attempting to exert pressure or political influence in the ISSBs, which have historically functioned as technological meritocracies,” the senators wrote Coats in a letter released Friday. “Not only does political influence undermine fair competition, it also raises serious economic and security concerns for 5G and future generations of wireless technologies.” The report should include “examples and case studies of attempts by China and other foreign adversaries to exert pressure or political influence within the ISSBs or at major telecommunication conferences to secure standards that are favorable to Chinese companies and patent holders, or that might introduce deficiencies into 5G networks.”