Room wants to keep Huawei away from construction 5G after Chinese espionage at ASML

For the time being, the Lower House does not want Huawei to be involved in the construction of the infrastructure required for 5G. The reason is the news that Chinese spies have stolen trade secrets from the Dutch chip machine maker ASML.

Huawei is better kept out until the risks are clear, say VVD, CDA, GroenLinks and D66 to the NOS. The National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) is now investigating whether the Chinese company can be sufficiently trusted.

“5G is not a new network. You build it on the present”, explains VVD Member of Parliament Arne Weverling to the broadcaster. “Until we’re sure it’s safe, we shouldn’t do business with Huawei. GreenLeft Member of Parliament Tom van der Lee adds that it is a “huge risk if you were to gain access to vital infrastructure via 5G networks”. “So: don’t do it with Huawei.”

ASML

The Chamber’s reactions follow the news that ASML has become a victim of Chinese espionage. Chinese spies are said to have stolen valuable information from the chip machine maker a few years ago, from an ASML branch in Silicon Valley. The data was stolen for XTAL, which is engaged in similar activities.

There was also a lawsuit in the United States for espionage. XTAL was sentenced to a fine of USD 233 million to compensate for the damage caused by the theft at ASML. XTAL filed for bankruptcy a few months later.

ASML itself denies, in a statement, that this is Chinese espionage. “We have been robbed by a handful of our own employees in Silicon Valley, who have broken the law to make themselves richer,” says CEO Peter Wennink. “The company goes on to say that the employees had different nationalities.

Huawei

However, Huawei has been under fire for some time now, because of fear of Chinese espionage. The United States in particular is concerned that the Chinese government may spy on 5G networks through equipment from Huawei and other Chinese manufacturers. That is why the country has been lobbying in Europe for a ban on the equipment for some time now. Huawei has always denied the accusations.

In March it was reported that the European Commission would ignore the United States’ call for a ban on Huawei. However, the Commission would call on EU countries to share more data in order to avoid security risks related to 5G networks.

The cabinet is expected to come up with a plan next month on how the Netherlands should deal with economic relations with China and espionage, also known as the “China Strategy”.