The Australian chairman of the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei has promised no data from local users would ever be sent back to Beijing, as the company makes a last-minute pitch to be allowed to help build Australia’s 5G network.
Huawei Australia chairman John Lord used a wide-ranging speech at the National Press Club on Wednesday to repeat denials that the company has deep links with Chinese intelligence.
“Much has been written ... about Huawei and unfortunately much of it has been uninformed or just plain wrong,” Mr Lord said.
“For some Western political and business leaders, the rise and influence of China is not easy to accept.”
Mr Lord was asked how Huawei could guarantee the records of Australian customers would not be sent back to the Chinese government, given Chinese law demands companies cooperate with its intelligence agencies and hand over data when requested.
“We won't do it, because that is completely illegal,” he said.
He said Australian privacy laws would override the Chinese laws, which have no jurisdiction in Australia.
“Huawei is well aware of its responsibilities in China. It's more than well aware of its responsibilities in every country, and it's very well aware that every individual country respects and wants its own security. And that's what we will guarantee.”
Mr Lord pointed out the fact many other tech companies, including Apple, manufactured their products in China.
The speech comes as parliament considers whether Huawei should be banned from competing to help build the next-generation 5G network.
As well as manufacturing its own smartphones, routers and data dongles, Huawei is a leader in supplying large-scale telco equipment - which it already provides to retailers like Telstra, Optus and Vodafone on the existing 4G network.
A decision is expected in the coming weeks. SBS News understands many politicians in both major parties support a ban.
The firm was barred from participating in the National Broadband Network under Julia Gillard’s Labor government, based on advice from intelligence agencies that warned of an espionage risk.
In recent months, Canberra staged a , instead opting to build it out of Australia’s own aid budget.
The company made headlines again this week when a new analysis of parliamentarian’s declared gifts and interests in the past eight years.
