US bans Chinese telecom companies from operating due to “security risks”

US regulators withdrew telecommunications licenses from China's state-run Pacific network in a recent coup d'état during a potential confrontation between Beijing and Washington on Wednesday.

Previously, Washington revoked permission from China Telecom and China Unicom, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) suspended services to ComNet, which is now a subsidiary of Pacific Networks and ComNet, for 60 days.

“Corporate ownership and control by the Chinese government poses a serious risk to national security and law enforcement,” the FCC said in a statement, adding that Beijing may monitor or interfere with communications from the United States.

Beijing criticized measures to “expand the concept of national security too blatantly.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a press conference on Thursday that “abuse of state power and unreasonable repression of Chinese enterprises.”

ComNet has not yet responded to AFP's request for comment.

The withdrawal of permission to operate the Pacific Network occurs when US President Joe Biden, Democrat, pushed for a strategy to confront China, closely aligned with the strategy of Republican predecessor Donald Trump (2017-2021) whose protectionist approach sparked tensions.

Relations between the two world's largest powers are tense in many aspects, including trade, human rights, Taiwan, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

China Telecom (China Telecom) is the largest wired operator in China, but it has been facing problems in the United States for many years, especially under the Trump administration, which has repeatedly clashed with Beijing on trade.

Telecommunications companies have fought against restrictions. China Unicom said in a January statement that the FCC's decision came out “without justifiable grounds and without providing due process.”

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