Huawei has refuted claims that its employees worked with the Chinese military to carry out research projects over the last decade.
According to a Bloomberg report, Huawei employees worked on at least ten projects with Chinese military personnel since 2009 to develop technology like artificial intelligence and radio communications.
The Chinese telecoms giant said on Thursday that it was not aware of the publication of research papers that detail employees’ work with the military, which featured in online research databases used mainly by Chinese academics and industry specialists.
Huawei maintained there there are no company-sanctioned projects cooperating with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
A spokesperson said:
“We do not have any R&D collaboration or partnerships with the PLA-affiliated institutions. We are not aware of our employees publishing research papers in their individual capacity.
“We only develop and produce communications products that conform to civil standards worldwide, and we do not customise R&D products for the military.”
Huawei has come under mounting scrutiny for over a year, led by US allegations that “back doors” in its routers, switches and other gear could allow China to spy on US communications. The company has denied its products pose a security threat.
Huawei has also consistently claimed that it has no ties to China’s government or military despite repeated accusations of espionage from the US government.
The company is currently fighting the ban in US courts, arguing that a law that bans government purchases from the Chinese telecoms firm is unconstitutional.
