U.S. bans China Telecom over national security concerns
The U.S. government has banned China Telecom, the largest Chinese telecommunications provider, from operating in the United States citing security concerns.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Tuesday ordered China Telecom Americas to discontinue its services within 60 days. This will end China Telecom’s 20 years in the U.S.
The firm’s “ownership and control by the Chinese government raise significant national security and law enforcement risks,” the FCC said in a statement.
The regulatory body noted that the Chinese government might use the telecoms services to eavesdrop or disrupt U.S. communications and “engage in espionage and other harmful activities against the United States.”
“The FCC’s decision is disappointing… We plan to pursue all available options while continuing to serve our customers,” a spokesperson for China Telecom told Reuters.
The U.S. Justice Department had already threatened to terminate China Telecom’s American dealings in April last year, saying U.S. government agencies “identified substantial and unacceptable national security and law enforcement risks associated with China Telecom’s operations.”
The U.S. crackdown on Chinese communications took a centre stage in 2019 when former President Donald Trump declared a national emergency to ban technology from “foreign adversaries” and placed strict export requirements on Chinese telecommunications company Huawei.
Mr Trump was then able to successfully persuade allies such as the UK and Australia to ban Huawei from their 5G networks.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Showbiz
Nigerian chess master, Tunde Onakoya, breaks GWR’s longest chess marathon
A charity group on Thursday said Mr Onakoya experienced intense vomiting and stomach pain.
World
800,000 people in Sudan city in ‘extreme, immediate danger’: UN
DiCarlo said fighting in El Fasher could unleash bloody inter-communal strife throughout Darfur.
NationWide
FG vows to revoke licences of operators illegally extracting uranium in Benue
The Oyo State governor said that the state was on the verge of establishing a state-owned mining corporation.
World
Man sets self ablaze outside court during Trump’s trial
Reports said bystanders screamed and tried to help.
NationWide
Remi Tinubu inaugurates new naval offshore patrol vessel
Mrs Tinubu said the acquisition of the high endurance offshore patrol vessels was another feat in the Tinubu administration.
World
Man detained after bomb threat at Iranian diplomatic mission in Paris
The 60-year-old Iranian threatened to commit violence in the building.