Romanian President Klaus Johannis (Klaus Iohannis) signed a Washington-backed bill Friday (June 11) that effectively bans China and Huawei from participating in the development of the country’s 5G telecom network due to security concerns.
The centrist government led by Prime Minister Florin Citu, an ally of Johannis, approved a ban against Chinese-controlled companies in April, which was subsequently approved by parliament.
Europe has become a battleground in the technology “cold war” between Beijing and Washington. If China is excluded, Huawei’s European rivals Ericsson and Nokia could become a 5G supplier duopoly.
The bill stems from a 2019 U.S.-Romania memorandum. “Careful and thorough evaluation of 5G suppliers is necessary as part of a risk-based approach to security,” the two governments said in the memo, excluding those controlled by foreign governments and lacking a transparent ownership structure.
Romania was a staunch ally of the United States before joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 2004. Washington views Huawei as an arm of the Chinese Communist Party’s global surveillance apparatus.
Huawei has repeatedly denied spying for the Chinese government.
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