Mika Lauhde, Huawei's vice-president for cybersecurity and privacy, told The Associated Press that he hopes for a 'positive resolution' of the standoff with the U.S. government and added that his company is not the 'nucleus of the issue,' linking to the bigger trade war between the U.S. and China.

 

The U.S. has enforced sanctions against the world's No. 1 network equipment provider and second-largest smartphone maker, disputing that it's officially beholden to the Chinese government, which could use the company's products for cyberespionage. Huawei denies these allegations.

 

Lauhde told the AP that the U.S. would be 'driving itself into a corner' if it were to sever all ties with Huawei and other Chinese technology companies. 'If they are disconnecting themselves from everybody, that's (going to) happen vice versa as well,' he said, alluding to possible Chinese reaction.

 

Some cybersecurity experts say that Washington, by going as far as warning other countries against working with Huawei actions, will most definitely furthermore persuade China to grow into more technically self-reliant and will be dividing the world into two tech camps.

 

Lauhde rejected suggestion of a full split in the tech industry. 'I don't believe that we would be establishing two different camps,' he told the AP. 'I still believe that we are working together.'

 

Technical ties between China and Russia, for one, are broadening. Russia's major mobile operator MTS and Huawei on Wednesday proclaimed an agreement to jointly develop 5G networks in Russia. Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the ceremony at the Kremlin.

 

This article is originally posted on tronserve.com