Baicells Under Scrutiny Over National Security Concerns
Washington:
Baicells, a Chinese telecoms hardware maker founded by veterans of heavily sanctioned Huawei, has been called out by a top US politician for its presence in the country, citing national security concerns. The company, which has equipment operating in every American state, has been accused of having cyber vulnerabilities in its products.
"The presence of this company – or any company with known cyber vulnerabilities in their products – anywhere in the US should raise significant national security alarms," said John Moolenaar, the top Republican on the House select committee on China. "The Chinese Communist Party is relentlessly pursuing efforts to export its oppressive surveillance state, and companies like Baicells, despite their claims of security, must be scrutinized rigorously."
Security Risks
Baicells has denied that its base stations present security risks, stating that it is willing to cooperate with any US inquiry. However, the company’s firmware has been flagged for cyber vulnerabilities by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and it is currently under investigation by the FBI and the commerce department over national security concerns.
Growing Concerns
The scrutiny of Baicells comes amid growing concerns in Washington about China’s ability to intercept sensitive data, hack into telecoms networks, or provide Americans with internet access. US networks have been targeted by a wide variety of state-backed hacking groups around the world, including a high-profile Chinese group dubbed "Volt Typhoon."
Reactions
Democratic congressman Frank Pallone, ranking member of the energy and commerce committee, echoed concerns over the company’s ties to China. "Companies with ties to foreign adversaries like China, who are intent on exploiting vulnerabilities in our telecommunications networks for espionage, are a dangerous and growing threat to our national security," he said.
Democratic senator Mark Warner, ranking member of the Senate intelligence committee, also weighed in, criticizing the US approach to addressing the threat. "Allowing (China)-linked suppliers into our supply chains and not exercising the necessary scrutiny is counterproductive," he said. "The whack-a-mole approach, focusing on the national security risks posed by a single company at a time, is not nimble enough to respond to the threats that we are seeing."
Conclusion
The scrutiny of Baicells highlights the growing concerns over China’s ability to exploit vulnerabilities in telecoms networks and infrastructure. As the US government continues to investigate the company, it is clear that the national security implications of its presence in the country must be taken seriously.
FAQs
- What is Baicells?
- Baicells is a Chinese telecoms hardware maker founded by veterans of heavily sanctioned Huawei.
- What are the national security concerns surrounding Baicells?
- The company’s presence in the US, its cyber vulnerabilities, and its ties to China have raised concerns over the potential for exploitation of US telecoms networks and infrastructure.
- How has Baicells responded to the concerns?
- The company has denied that its base stations present security risks, stating that it is willing to cooperate with any US inquiry.
- What is the current status of the investigation into Baicells?
- The company is currently under investigation by the FBI and the commerce department over national security concerns.