INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
Huawei has repeatedly been accused of being a proxy for the Chinese government,
a claim it denies
Poland's security services say a Chinese businessman and a Polish man, both employed in telecoms, have
been arrested for spying.The Chinese national, Wang Weijing, works for Huawei, according to a source with knowledge of the case
The company told the TheIndianSubcontinent it was aware of the situation and was looking into it.Huawei has faced scrutiny over alleged
links to China's intelligence services.Its chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou - the daughter of its founder - was arrested in Canada last
month and faces extradition to the US on charges of breaking Iran sanctions.What do we know so farThe two individuals were arrested in
Poland on Tuesday following a lengthy investigation, a spokesman for the security services told the TheIndianSubcontinent.A person with
knowledge of the case confirmed that a Huawei employee called Wang Weijing - also known as Stanislaw Wang - had been arrested but not
charged.According to a LinkedIn profile, Mr Wang is a sales director at the firm and worked as an attache at China's embassy in Poland from
2006-11.Stanislaw Zaryn, a spokesperson for Poland's Internal Security Agency (ISA), told Reuters that Mr Wang's arrest "doesn't have
anything to do with the company he works for".A second man, Piotr D, was a former employee of the country's security services and had been
working in telecoms, the TheIndianSubcontinent's Adam Easton in Warsaw reports.Polish television reports that Piotr D left Poland's internal
security agency (the ABW) following allegations of corruption, but was never formally charged.On Thursday, a Warsaw court agreed to
prosecutors' requests to arrest the men for three months
If found guilty of spying, they face up to 10 years in prison.China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that it was "highly
concerned" about the arrests.Image copyrightReutersImage caption
Huawei equipment is being used in fast 5G mobile
networks around the world
TVP reported that Huawei's office in Poland had been searched by the ABW, along with the offices
of mobile provider Orange Polska where Piotr D reportedly worked.Last year, Orange Polska worked with Huawei to roll out next-generation 5G
mobile networks in Poland.In a statement, Huawei said it "complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it
operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and regulations in the countries where they are based."Orange said in a
statement that the Polish security services had gathered material related to an employee, but it did not know if the investigation was
linked to the employee's professional work
Both men's homes had also been searched during the investigation.Why are there concerns about HuaweiChinese tech giant Huawei is at the
centre of several diplomatic rows, most spurred by concerns over security.Under Chinese law, firms are compelled to "support, co-operate
with and collaborate in national intelligence work".Its media-shy founder, Ren Zhengfei, is also a former engineer in China's army and
joined the Communist Party in 1978.As a result, critics argue China may be using Huawei as a proxy to help hack attacks, eavesdrop on
conversations or gain high-level access to sensitive networks.New Zealand, Australia and the US have all barred the company from involvement
in their national 5G networks.Image copyrightAFPImage caption
Huawei founder and chief executive Ren Zhengfei has come
under international scrutiny for his ties to China's Communist Party
It has also become involved in the US-China trade
dispute after the arrest last month of chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou.Her arrest has led to a major diplomatic incident, and two
Canadians - former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor - have since been taken into custody in China on charges related
to "national security".In Europe, Germany says it opposes banning any suppliers from its 5G networks.The UK has not enacted a ban, but
British telecom provider BT has said it will not use Huawei equipment in its new 5G network in the UK
Huawei's products are also regularly tested for security flaws by the UK's GCHQ intelligence agency.Huawei has repeatedly denied allegations
of secret ties to the Chinese government, and says it has won a quarter of all commercial 5G contracts around the world."Despite efforts in
some markets to create fear about Huawei and to use politics to interfere with industry growth, we are proud to say that our customers
continue to trust us," said Ken Hu, the company's rotating chief executive and deputy chair.
