Pompeo labels Huawei an ‘instrument of Chinese government’

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has labeled Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei an “instrument of the Chinese government.”

“Huawei is an instrument of the Chinese government,” Pompeo said in a Fox Business Network interview that aired Wednesday. “They’re deeply connected. It’s something that’s hard for Americans to understand.”

“Our companies cooperate with the United States government. That is, they comply with our laws. But no president directs an American private company. That’s very different in China. They just simply operate under a different set of a rules,” he added. 

.@SecPompeo to @MariaBartiromo: “Huawei is an instrument of the Chinese government. They’re deeply connected.” https://t.co/RmT8OIZK1y

— John Hendel (@JohnHendel) May 29, 2019

Huawei has denied involvement with the Chinese government, military or intelligence services.

{mosads}President Trump earlier this month signed an executive order to put Huawei on a blacklist, which essentially prevents the company from buying components from American firms without permission from the U.S. government. Huawei opposed the decision. 

The U.S. is also currently in a trade war with China after the sides failed to reach a trade agreement. The U.S. has hiked up tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese imports. 

The administration has signaled that another $300 billion in Chinese products could soon be subject to increased tariffs.