Huawei's cyber security chief told the UK parliament Monday that the Chinese telecoms giant has been advised it was under no obligation to spy for Beijing if so asked by the Communist state.
John Suffolk told a committee hearing that Huawei has sought guidance from its attorneys to see if a Chinese law on domestic companies' cooperation with the government on security matters could force it to conduct foreign intelligence work.
The legislation has been cited by US President Donald Trump's administration in its attempts to force governments across the world to drop Huawei from their 5G network development plans.
Suffolk's appearance before the UK parliament's science and technology committee came as Britain prepares to publish delayed policy guidelines for the next-generation technology's rollout.
"There are no laws in China that obligate us to work with the Chinese government with anything whatsoever," Suffolk said.
"Our legal advice is that is not the case."
Britain and other states are concerned by a series of Chinese laws that include one adopted in June 2017 covering private companies and intelligence matters.
Committee member Julian Lewis cited the legislation as saying that Beijing had the power to "request the relevant organs, organisations and civilians to provide necessary support, assistance and cooperation" to various Chinese security agencies.
Suffolk said the legislation's "unclear" wording forced Huawei to consult its Chinese attorneys and advisers at London's Clifford Chance law firm.
"Many countries produce laws that are unclear and we have had to go through a period of clarification with the Chinese government that have come out and made it quite clear that (spying) is not the requirement on any company," Suffolk said.
"We have had that validated ..
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