Under the pretext of "threatening national security," the U.S. Federal Communications Commission revoked the license of the Chinese telecom subsidiary to operate in the United States

(Observer News) The US government has once again blackmailed China Telecom's business in the United States. On October 26, local time, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a press release saying that the agency voted on the grounds of so-called "national security" on the same day to pass a decision, announcing the revocation of the operating license of China Telecom's American subsidiary in the United States and requiring it to stop its services in the United States within 60 days.

The FCC claimed that China Telecom's subsidiaries were "likely under the control of the Chinese government" and "accepted the Chinese government's request" in the absence of so-called "adequate legal process for independent judicial oversight."

The agency used this as an excuse to play the banner of so-called "national security", falsely claiming that "China's control of the company may give China the opportunity to interfere with and disrupt the US mobile network" and provide the so-called "opportunity to engage in malicious network activities or espionage activities", thus posing a "risk to the national security of the United States".

Screenshot of a press release on the FCC website

Jessica Rosenworcel, acting chair of the Federal Communications Commission, also claimed at a public meeting on the same day that the decision to revoke China Telecom Americas' license to operate in the United States is an "important and necessary step" and that the U.S. government will take a tougher stance on the "threat" facing U.S. telecom networks, according to politico.

The vote is also seen as a continuation of the agency's Policies under Trump. Politico said that last December, the FCC launched a procedure to revoke China Telecom's license to operate in the United States. Although China Telecom America challenged the move, its appeal to the U.S. court was unsuccessful.

The U.S. government's decision means the end of China Telecom's nearly 20-year business in the United States. A spokesman for China Telecom Americas responded to the matter by saying, "The FCC's decision is disappointing and we plan to seek all viable options while continuing to serve our customers," Bloomberg said. ”

This is not the first time that the US government has taken a "stranglehold" against China's telecommunications companies. In March, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced that it would initiate procedures to revoke the authorization of China Unicom Americas Corporation, Pacific Network Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries to provide interstate and international communications services in the United States under the pretext of "national security.".

Not only that, but the US government is also trying to continue to expand the scope of the crackdown. Politico said the FCC is studying whether to remove authorizations from more companies "linked to the Chinese government" in a similar way. Rosenwarcel claimed that the example of the Chinese telecom subsidiary provided the agency with a "template" for other suppliers.

With regard to the frequent suppression of Chinese enterprises by the United States under the pretext of so-called "national security," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian has previously pointed out that the abuse of state power by the United States to suppress Chinese enterprises is a naked economic and technological bullying, a blatant denial of the market economy principles that the United States has always flaunted, and also exposed the hypocrisy of the so-called fair competition of the United States.

The Foreign Ministry has also repeatedly urged the US side to stop its erroneous practice of generalizing the concept of national security and politicizing economic issues, so as to provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese enterprises to operate normally in the United States. China will continue to support relevant Chinese enterprises in safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law.

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