Huawei 'puzzled' by US worries over S Korea deal

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd said Wednesday it is "puzzling" that US officials have now expanded their objections to the telecommunication company to South Korea after being against Huawei conducting business in the US.

"The motivations of those that might groundlessly purport otherwise are puzzling," a PR staff of Huawei, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Global Times Wednesday, referring to a letter sent by US senators to high-ranking US government officials.

Senator Dianne Feinstein, chair of the Senate's intelligence committee, and Senator Robert Menendez, chair of the Senate's foreign affairs committee, said in a letter that Huawei's business in South Korea could bring damage to the defense ties between the US and South Korea, and "raises serious questions and potential security concerns," Financial Times reported Tuesday.

The letter was sent to US Secretary of State John Kerry, US Secretary of Defense Chunk Hagel, and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper late last month, requiring them to assess any potential threats from Huawei's newly won project in South Korea, the report said.

Huawei has been chosen by a subsidiary of South Korea's LG Corp to build a broadband network.

Hong Lei, spokesman of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told media Wednesday that the ministry is aware of media reports about US concerns about Huawei's business in South Korea, according to a post on the website of the ministry.

"We hope that some countries can fairly treat the global development of Chinese companies rather than politicize these issues," Hong said.

Scott Sykes, head of international media affairs for Huawei, said Huawei entered the South Korea market in 2002 and provides telecoms infrastructure to all three mobile phone operators there, according to the report.

South Korea is also concerned about security but the government cannot intervene in Huawei's business in the private sector, South Korea's science and technology ministry was quoted by the report.

Ren Zhengfei, founder and CEO of Huawei, said in a rare interview in Paris that Huawei has exited the US market in order not to affect Sino-US relations, and that as a private enterprise, Huawei has no political stance.