ZTE

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is ending its funding ties with Chinese telecoms giants Huawei and ZTE, citing the risks of such arrangements in the light of US federal investigations of the two companies. MIT’s move is the latest in a series of blows to the Chinese telecoms giants, both of which have struggled in the face of high-level opposition to their activities in the US market. Lawmakers allege that the equipment they sell – key components in mobile phone network infrastructure – could become cybersecurity threats. The announcement by the prestigious academic institution – rated third in the US News and World Report’s ranking of American universities – follows similar moves by S

Good friends are forever, except maybe when it comes to friendships between countries. This is in part the thinking behind Australia’s move to ban two Chinese companies from building a next-generation telecommunications network in the country, according to the former Australian leader whose administration oversaw the ban. Australia banned tech giants Huawei and ZTE from its 5G network as a “hedge against adverse contingencies” in case relations with China soured in the future, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said in an interview with the South China Morning Post this week. Turnbull, who was ousted as leader in August 2018, said that his government “decided not to allow 5G networks to

If Chinese scientists, engineers and most importantly politicians have their way, the future will run on pinyin. It’s the Chinese romanization system which gives rise to names like Baidu, Huawei and Xiaomi. Despite the global ambition of China and its tech giants, some of their most strategically important products and projects are still named in Chinese and spelled in pinyin – leading to pronunciation difficulties, let alone any explanation of the meaning behind them. So here’s a quick guide to decoding the meanings behind the names of some key Chinese tech companies, products and projects. Huawei Technologies How to say it: Hwah-way What it means: Telecoms giant Huawei has grabbed headlin

Australia has banned two Chinese tech giants from building next-generation communications infrastructure. Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE have been blocked from building 5G infrastructure in the country, on national security grounds. An Australian government statement said that it was risky to involve “vendors who are likely to be subject to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government that conflict with Australian law.” The statement made no mention of China, but Huawei confirmed on Twitter that both companies had been blocked from providing 5G technology in Australia. We have been informed by the Govt that Huawei & ZTE have been banned from providing 5G technology to Australia. This is

Donald Trump has won a victory for himself – and for China, as well. Senate lawmakers have reached a deal not to reinstate a crippling ban on Chinese telecommunications company ZTE for violating US business laws. That’s a win for Trump, who had ordered the lifting of the ban in what he said was part of his trade war negotiations with China. Several senators backed down from their attempt to reimpose the block placed by the Commerce Department in April that prevented ZTE from buying any American components – from processor chips to urinal parts – according to a conference report released on Tuesday. A compromise amendment, which is part of the must-pass Defense Appropriation Bill, instead ad

A ban on buying US parts has pushed Chinese telecoms equipment maker ZTE to the brink of collapse – and now it can't even fix a US-made urinal. The piece of porcelain in question is located at one of the firm’s offices in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. It is made by American Standard, a New Jersey-based sanitary fittings manufacturer. And that means it can’t be fixed, according to a notice posted by ZTE's facilities management department. “Under the export ban, we cannot purchase any spare parts. After the export ban is lifted, we will purchase the spare parts and repair the urinal. Its use will resume.” The notice was posted online and a ZTE employee has confirmed the authenticity o

The Senate passed a $716 billion defense policy bill on Monday which expands the nation’s military – a core campaign promise for President Donald Trump. But the deal could also spell the end of the president’s deal to save Chinese telecoms company ZTE from the axe. Now Trump is trying to see if he can sweet talk Republicans into saving his deal. The Senate voted 85-10 for the annual National Defense Authorization Act, a bill which authorizes military spending. In this case, a bipartisan group of senators attached a block on US companies selling components to ZTE Corp, the world’s second-largest telecommunications equipment maker. That effectively scuppers the deal Trump had negotiated, to a

It’s one piece of bad news after another for ZTE Corp these days. Shares in the Chinese telecommunications giant plunged by as much as 41% when they resumed trading in Hong Kong on Wesdnesay after a two-month hiatus, and by as much as the daily limit of 10% on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. The fall wiped almost $3 billion off the market value of the world’s fourth-largest telecoms equipment maker. It’s the latest in a long line of blows to ZTE, which is struggling to get back on its feet after the US Commerce Department imposed a seven-year ban on the company from buying any US components – a move which crippled its operations. And while last week the Trump administration announced it had neg

After the tweets, comes the deal – and the apologies. The Trump administration on Thursday announced a deal to lift tough sanctions on Chinese telecommunications company ZTE after it agreed to pay a $1 billion fine and overhaul its management. The deal would end a seven-year ban announced in April on ZTE doing business with US suppliers, a measure that pushed the company to the brink of collapse because of its reliance on American components. The company has "paid a huge price," said ZTE Chairman Yin Yimin, in an internal letter to employees obtained by the South China Morning Post. “On behalf of the board of directors and management, I would like to apologize to all employees, customers, sh

Since when did President Trump care about jobs in China? Never, until he tweeted this: President Xi of China, and I, are working together to give massive Chinese phone company, ZTE, a way to get back into business, fast. Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2018 Trump promised to be the “greatest jobs president God ever created” during his presidential campaign, but it had always been about boosting American jobs. On Twitter, whenever he had mentioned China and jobs in one breath, he was almost always accusing the country of “stealing” them from the United States. That’s why the Sunday tweet was such