They are unlike American firms which operate with “highest standards of transparency, adhere to rule of law,” he says
(Eagle News) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday, March 1, warned the Philippines against entering into deals with Chinese state-run or state-backed firms.
Speaking to the media at the Department of Foreign Affairs where he met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Pompeo said American companies were the “best partners” in infrastructure, development, and digital economy because he said they operated with the “highest standards of transparency and adhere to rule of law.”
He said “the same cannot be said of the Chinese state-run or state-backed enterprises.”
He said there were “risks” in particular associated with Huawei.
“So our task has been to share with the world the risks associated with the technology, the risks to the Filipino people, the risk that America may not be able to operate certain environments if there’s Huawei technology adjacent to that,” he said.
“We believe that competition, whether it’s in 5G or some other technology have to be open, free and transparent and we worry that Huawei is not that,” he added.
Only recently, the Philippine government entered into a P20-billion contract with China International Telecommunication Construction Corporation (CITCC) for the installation of 12,000 closed-circuit television cameras, initially in Davao and Metro Manila.
But the Senate moved to block payment to the Chinese firm, with Senator Ralph Recto raising concerns about the firm’s use of the equipment of Huawei, which he said has been banned in some countries due to hacking allegations.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo sought to allay fears, however, saying “this government will not allow any security leaks.”
