Australian
spy chief explains ban on Chinese tech firms Huawei and ZTE, deemed ‘high-risk
vendors’
In August, the Australian federal government decided to bar
Huawei and ZTE from supplying equipment to Australia’s 5G network
Australian policy institute claims at least 300 Chinese military
scientists came to Australia as PhD students or visiting scholars
Australia’s
spy chief has explained why China’s Huawei Technologies or ZTE Corp could not
be allowed to help build Australia’s new 5G mobile network, saying a potential
threat anywhere in the network could undermine the entire project.
Mike
Burgess, the director-general of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), said
if “high-risk vendor equipment” is used anywhere in Australia’s evolving 5G
network, the future communications system underpinning water supply and
electricity grid and health systems, even self-driving cars, could not be
protected.
“The
stakes could not be higher,” Burgess warned. “Historically, we have protected
the sensitive information and functions at the core of our telecommunications
networks by confining our high-risk vendors to the edge of our networks. But
the distinction between core and edge collapses in 5G networks. That means that
a potential threat anywhere in the network will be a threat to the whole
network.”
Burgess
made his comments at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s (ASPI)
national security dinner in Canberra on Monday evening. His comments coincide
with ASD making its Twitter debut, announcing its arrival with a message
describing the agency as a “long time listener, first time caller”.
In
August the Australian federal government decided to bar Huawei and ZTE from
supplying equipment to Australia’s 5G network, claiming it was necessary to
protect national security. Marise Payne, the foreign affairs minister, said it
was not targeted specifically at Huawei and ZTE but applied to any company that
had obligations clashing with Australia’s national security.
The
decision to ban Huawei and ZTE from running the technology has infuriated
Beijing and sparked a PR battle over the trustworthiness of those firms. Both
operate with Chinese state backing but are among the biggest technology
companies in the world. Huawei, founded by a People’s Liberation Army
researcher, and ZTE have been accused by the US Congress of being tools of the
Chinese intelligence services.
“The
Australian government has made the wrong decision and it will have a negative
impact to the business interests of China and Australia companies,” China’s
commerce ministry said.
Burgess
told the audience at ASPI’s dinner on Monday that strategic and economic power
was shifting east, as the global economy changed. He said it was bringing with
it a wealth of opportunities for Australia as the country advances its digital
economy and trade relationships, but it was also changing the industrial base
Australia relies on for critical infrastructure.
“We
will need to be open-eyed on the potential threats that any significant change
of this kind poses to Australia’s most important interests,” he said. “It would
be naive to think we can manage these strategic and technology risks by holding
back change. Like everything, it is a question of finding the right balance
between leveraging all the advantages that these new shifts bring – and
protecting Australians, our values and our way of life.”
The
Australian government has made the wrong decision
Chinese
commerce ministry
Reforms
to Chinese intelligence and President Xi Jinping’s drive to expand China’s
influence overseas have led to increasing friction and competition between
intelligence agencies in Beijing and Canberra.
The
ASPI on Tuesday accused the Chinese military of sending 2,500 scientists and
engineers overseas to work on potentially sensitive projects – with the
intention of returning to work directly for the PLA.
Researcher
Alex Joske found at least 300 Chinese military scientists came to Australia as
PhD students or visiting scholars. They worked in fields including signal
processing, radar, explosions and navigation systems, as well as self-driving
cars and code-breaking, he wrote.
Most
PLA scientists do not disguise their background but the institute said it
identified “24 new cases of scientists hiding their military affiliation while
travelling outside China, including 17 who came to Australia”.
Australia
is part of the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance with Canada, New Zealand, the
United Kingdom and the United States, who cooperate closely and share sensitive
information.
Additional
reporting by Agence France-Presse
This
article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: spy chief
defends 5G ban on huawei and ZTE by canberra
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