Huawei – A Threat to India's National Security?

National Security Agency has warned Indian Government on Chinese Telecom Giant Huawei's expanding footprints in India as ‘national security threat’. Huawei is the world's second largest telecom equipment manufacturer after Ericsson, with revenues of $28 billion and was founded by Chinese Army veteran Ren Zhengfei. Recently Bangalore-based Indian Institute of Science (IISc) had signed a MOU with Huawei Technologies and generates lots of controversy across the country. 

Memorandum of Understanding says "In order for IISc to perform certain studies in respect of telecom equipments, IISc shall be requiring detailed understanding about various features, standards and related documentation. Huawei agrees to share some information, knowledge, software, hardware and equipments with IISc for its studies.” Therefore raising questions of giving access to suspicious Chinese company.
India was required to take the help of the Chinese firm because no Indian companies makes telecom gear and no other foreign company was willing to assist India because of concern about intellectual property rights.

Now the union home ministry is seriously considering a review of the pact and insisting on a prior security clearance for the agreement.  A senior official in the ministry told media that "Naturally, there are concerns ....a mandatory security clearance should have been sought in this case, as it relates to the strategic telecommunications sector."

Huawei has denied all the allegations of having any links with the Chinese Army and a threat to India’s national security. Company's spokesperson said that they had fulfilled all obligations and requirements of DoT and were committed to working in India.