European Interest

Poland presses for joint EU-Nato stance on Huawei

Flickr/Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji/CC BY-ND 2.0
Joachim Brudziński said Poland wanted to continue cooperating with China but that a discussion was needed on whether to exclude Huawei from some markets.

The European Union and Nato should take a “joint stance” on Huawei, the world’s biggest producer of telecommunications equipment. This is according to Poland’s internal affairs minister.

Joachim Brudziński said Poland wanted to continue cooperating with China but that a discussion was needed on whether to exclude Huawei from some markets. The call comes after an employee of the Chinese telecommunications equipment maker was arrested on spying charges.

“There are concerns about Huawei within Nato as well. It would make most sense to have a joint stance, among EU member states and Nato members,” he told broadcaster RMF FM.

“We want relations with China that are good, intensive and attractive for both sides,” he added.

As reported by the Guardian, Huawei on January 12 sacked the Chinese employee, Wang Weijing, following his arrest and that of a former Polish security official on January 11. The two men could be held for three months.

Seeking to distance itself from the Polish incident, Huawei on January 12 said in a statement it had sacked Wang, whose “alleged actions have no relation to the company”.

“In accordance with the terms and conditions of Huawei’s labour contract, we have made this decision because the incident has brought Huawei into disrepute,” the statement said.

“Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based.”

Explore more