Krack US Deputy Secretary of State "Respect Decision on South Korea's Huawei Exclusion 'Non-Intervention Policy'"

South Korean Government Maintains 'Private Companies' Decision' on Excluding Huawei Products
Vice Minister Krack: "Ultimately a Matter of Trust... Continued Use of Huawei Equipment Could Harm Information Security"…Indirect Pressure Continues

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Gaude Kiss Clark, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, who is intensifying sanctions on Chinese telecommunications equipment company Huawei products, stated that he "respects" the South Korean government's policy that "the decision to use the products depends on private companies."

According to Voice of America (VOA), Deputy Secretary Clark responded to a question about the South Korean government's stance on using Huawei products on the 30th of last month (local time), saying, "We respect South Korea and respect South Korea's decision," and explained, "Ultimately, it is a matter of trust, and more and more countries and companies are raising questions about whom to trust regarding personal information, customer information, and intellectual property."

However, Deputy Secretary Clark emphasized that Huawei is not a trustworthy company. He said, "Huawei, which is the foundation of the Chinese Communist Party's surveillance, is clearly not a trustworthy entity," and added, "If Huawei equipment continues to be used, there will be significant damage to information protection."

The United States has been continuously pressuring its major allies to participate in the Clean Network by excluding Huawei products. On the 14th of last month, during the Korea-U.S. Senior Economic Dialogue (SED) held via video conference, the U.S. side requested the exclusion of Huawei products. However, the South Korean side maintained its existing position, stating that "the exclusion of Huawei equipment is a matter for private companies to decide."

The Clean Network is a policy aimed at excluding products from Chinese companies, such as Huawei, which the U.S. deems untrustworthy, from 5G communication networks. The U.S. has recently demanded this not only from South Korea but also from Western countries including Europe and Southeast Asian countries.

Meanwhile, regarding China's retaliatory warnings after Sweden decided to exclude Huawei and ZTE equipment, Deputy Secretary Clark said, "South Korea has also experienced such retaliation in the past," and stated, "The United States will stand with its allies against the 'China bully.'"