Huawei's Long Game
by Peter Schweizer • October 19, 2021 at 5:00 am
"It's simply not reasonable to expect that Huawei would refuse a direction from the Chinese Communist Party." — Simeon Gilding, former head of the Australian Signals Directorate's signals intelligence and offensive cyber missions.
It is essential for business leaders to understand this: there is no such thing as a private company in China.... all Chinese companies and individuals must assist with intelligence efforts if asked.
Huawei is hardly slowing down. Despite still being under telecom restrictions.... Huawei was granted hundreds of applications to purchase chips for its automotive supply business by the Biden administration. The company, according to a spokesman, aims to be a component provider for "intelligent connected vehicles."
In July, Democratic super-lobbyist Tony Podesta signed up as a "consultant" for Huawei. A Huawei company message board posting noted that the hiring was part of an "expanded U.S. influence operation."
Huawei also employs a white shoe Washington law firm, Sidley Austin, to handle its interests in the capital. This firm was also representing Meng Wanzhou in her successful battle to avoid extradition to the US. Christopher Fonzone, a partner in that law firm, was recently confirmed over Republican objections as the Biden administration's choice to be the top lawyer for the office of the Director of National Intelligence. An Obama administration veteran.... his LinkedIn profile... goes on to note, "He also has particular experience assisting clients in the management of crisis situations."
In late September, Meng Wanzhou stepped off the Air China plane in Shenzhen to a hero's welcome. It was the triumphant return of an innocent Chinese tech executive from wrongful imprisonment by the West. The truth is far different.
Meng, a Chinese national, was on Canadian soil in 2018 when the Trump administration began extradition procedures against her as part of a fraud case against both her and her employer, Huawei, for potentially violating U.S. trade sanctions on Iran. In Canada, the imprisonment which she called "an abyss" amounted to wearing an ankle bracelet and enjoying an extended stay in the city of Vancouver, where she, Huawei's CFO, was free to explore the city by day, while living in her own home there, taking classes in painting and lessons in English.
