Korean communications project caught between US-China tensions

Posted on : 2013-12-05 14:31 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Washington has reportedly expressed concern over Chinese involvement in building of LTE network
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By Jung E-gil and Lee Soon-hyuk, staff reporters

South Korean communications projects are being affected by frictions between the US and China.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Dec. 3 that the administration of US President Barack Obama was raising concerns about a Chinese communications company taking part in a South Korean project to build a state-of-the-art wireless network.

US officials reportedly sent a message of concern to South Korea after news that Huawei Technologies, China’s biggest communications company, was selected as a partner in the LG Uplus project to build an LTE network.

The worry is that this could enable China to eavesdrop on communications in the US and allied countries.

Previously, the US blocked Huawei from taking part in one of its own 2011 projects to build a wireless network for emergency responders. Last year, it pressured Australia to prevent Huawei from competing for a broadband network contract, the WSJ reported.

The US is concerned that Huawei’s equipment could be used to gather information not just from communications in allied countries, but from the secure communications network used by the US military. Officials in the US said the country had to be especially sensitive about a South Korean communications network because of the presence of USFK.

Rather than using official channels, the Obama administration is expressing its concerns about Huawei’s participation in the construction of its ally’s telecommunications infrastructure through individual meetings. This reflects awareness that an official expression of its position could create the impression that the US administration is interfering with the commercial activities of its allies, the WSJ said.

The paper suggested that this behind-the-scenes pressure could be even more problematic considering the recent revelations about wiretapping by the US National Security Agency (NSA) and the fact that US Vice President Joe Biden is currently on a trip to South Korea, China, and Japan hoping to defuse high tensions in Northeast Asia caused by China’s announcement of its air defense identification zone (ADIZ). The paper reported that US officials declined to comment about whether Biden would bring up this issue during his visit to South Korea from Dec. 5 to Dec. 7.

Regarding the issue, LG Uplus said, “Huawei is only providing the equipment, it has nothing to do with operating it. LG Uplus handles all aspects of operating the network.”

“It is difficult to understand why people would be making these groundless allegations,” said Huawei.

The spokesperson for the related South Korean government ministry said that it had not been contacted by the US government about this issue and that it was up to the company in question to decide what to do.

At the same time, a letter sent to US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel by Bob Menendez, chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and another senator is creating a stir. In the letter, the senators expressed their concern about the issue, emphasizing that “maintaining the integrity of telecommunications infrastructure” was important for efficiently operation of a security alliance. In addition to security considerations, the senators’ concern also appears to be aimed at countering the expansion of Huawei’s business, as the company competes with American companies.

 

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