Sweden bans Huawei ZTE from participating in the country’s 5G network, will China take countermeasures? Response from Zhao Lijian

At the regular press conference of the Chinese Foreign Ministry on October 21, a foreign journalist asked a question: Sweden has announced that Huawei and ZTE are banned from participating in the construction of Sweden’s 5G network because of “national security”. The Chinese side has already issued a statement on the matter. May I ask if China will take countermeasures against Sweden?

“China expresses its strong dissatisfaction with Sweden’s decision.” Zhao Lijian said in response, saying that Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE have been strictly abiding by local laws for years, actively promoting Sino-Swedish ICT cooperation and making positive contributions to Sweden’s infrastructure development. The Chinese market has also remained open to European companies, including Sweden.

Zhao Likian pointed out that the Swiss side, without any evidence, used national security as an excuse to unreasonably smear Chinese companies, openly suppress Chinese telecommunication enterprises and politicize normal economic cooperation, which is contrary to the market economy principles of freedom, openness, fairness, impartiality and non-discrimination to which Sweden adheres and also violates international economic and trade rules.

Zhao Lijian urged the Swiss side to correct the wrong decision in an objective and fair manner to avoid any negative impact on the Sino-Swedish economic and trade cooperation and the operation of Swiss enterprises in China.