The following is my
answer to a Quora question: “What is Singapore’s stand on Huawei
5G amidst allegations of backdoors?”
The allegations of backdoors are speculative and
unproven. No one has come forward with
any proof that there is such a development. On the other hand, we know from Wikileaks,
that American software has such backdoors.
Perhaps, we can say that the Americans, and the Western bloc, are afraid
of Huawei doing to them, on behalf of the Chinese government, what they have
been doing to others for years.
On the other hand, these allegations are more about
economic hegemony and market access than actual espionage. Even for the Chinese, bugging their own
software is too obvious and hurts their market credibility. They are not stupid. It is far more efficient to simply tap fibre
optic cables on the sea bed. The
Americans and the Russians already do this. The Chinese certainly have that technological
capability.
Singapore has not commented on it, and it is not a
factor here. Our telecommunications
sector is well secured because we already have a healthy dose of paranoia. It does not benefit us to take sides when
regional and international powers are fighting. We make money by being the middle men who
facilitate trade between contending factions.
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