Huawei CEO Says Company Doesn't Spy for China

Huawei would never allow China's government to access customer data, even if Beijing requested it, the CEO and founder of the company repeatedly emphasized on Tuesday, amid continued political pressure on the Chinese technology giant.

In a rare sit down with international media, Ren Zhengfei addressed concerns raised by the US government, which has warned that the company's equipment could allow the Chinese government to have a backdoor into a nation's telecommunications network. Ren Zhengfei, the CEO and founder of Huawei, said that he would "definitely" refuse any request from the Chinese government to access the company's user data. Ren told representatives of the international media that his longtime affiliation with China's authoritarian party would not affect his ability to fight against that same government if it requested user data. The CEO also praised President Donald Trump, calling him a "great president."

Ren said that when it comes to cyber security and privacy protection, they are committed to be sided with their customers. They will never harm any nation or any individual.

He added that China's ministry of foreign affairs has officially clarified that no law in China requires any company to install mandatory back doors. Huawei and he himself personally have never received any request from any government to provide improper information.

Ren, a former soldier in the People's Liberation Army and a current Communist Party member, has faced several years of questions about his relationship between those organizations and his company. Despite his history, Ren told the representatives of the international media that his longtime affiliation with China's authoritarian party would not affect his ability to fight against that same government if it requested user data.

He said that the values of a business entity is customer centricity. They are a business organization so they must follow business rules. And in that context he doesn't see close connection between his personal political belief and his business actions, they are going to take as a business entity. And he thinks he already made himself very clear right now, they will definitely say ‘no’ to such a request, he said.

Praising the US President, Ren said that for President Trump as a person, he still believes he is a great president. In the sense that he was bold to slash taxes. And Ren thinks that's conducive for the development of industries in the United States.