US Weighs New Curbs on Chinese Telecom Firms

Tensions between the United States and China are increasingly spilling into the telecommunications sector. China Unicom has warned that planned restrictions by the US administration could disrupt global communications networks.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering a ban that would prevent US operators from interconnecting with several Chinese telecommunications companies, which Washington regards as a security risk.

China Unicom argues that such a move could affect not only Chinese firms but also US businesses that depend on trade and supply-chain links with China. The company says Chinese operators handle a significant share of communications between the world's two largest economies.

At the same time, the FCC is considering additional measures, including restrictions on Chinese data centres and tighter limits on connections involving equipment supplied by Huawei and ZTE.

(reuters, mja)