The U.S. government has contacted foreign allies and asked them to refrain from purchasing telecommunications gear from Huawei, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The U.S. reached out to Germany, Italy, and Japan to warn them of what it perceives as security risks in equipment from the Chinese manufacturer. The countries contacted by the U.S. host military bases, which is one of the top concerns. While sensitive military information is transmitted via satellite, a lot of communication still travels over commercial networks.
The U.S. government already prevents U.S. carriers from using gear from Huawei, and has also forbid government employees from buying Huawei phones. The U.S. waved a carrot stick at allies in the form of foreign aid, which government officials say will be increased for countries that shun equipment from Huawei.
Though the government has cautioned against Huawei gear for years, the Trump administration has taken a more active approach in squashing Huawei’s business prospects in the U.S. Huawei did not comment on the Journal’s story.
