U.S. charges Chinese telecom giant Huawei with fraud, stealing trade secrets

The Department of Justice unveiled criminal charges against Huawei Technologies Co., accusing one of the largest telecommunications firms in China of stealing trade secrets, breaking confidentiality agreements and violating sanctions against Iran.

The Trump administration and lawmakers from both parties have denounced the company for its alleged links to China’s communist leadership. 

In early December, Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s chief financial officer, was arrested by Canadian authorities at the request of the U.S. to face charges of violating sanctions against Iran. The Chinese government has called for Meng’s release, but some officials in the Trump administration are pushing for her extradition to the U.S.

Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker was joined by Department of Homeland (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and several U.S. attorneys for the announcement at DOJ headquarters on Monday. 

U.S. officials are meeting with representatives of the Chinese government this week to try broker an elusive trade agreement and end the prolonged tariff war between the two economic giants. Apart from the trade dispute, the U.S. and China are competing for control over 5G infrastructure, which both countries believe is key to their economic and military success.