INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
Huawei is the world's second biggest smartphone maker by volume
Chinese telecoms giant Huawei has denied any wrongdoing after US prosecutors filed a host of criminal charges against the firm
Huawei has also rejected criminal claims against its chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, who was arrested in Canada last month.The charges
filed against Huawei in the US include bank fraud, obstruction of justice and theft of technology
The case could escalate tensions between China and the US
In a statement, Huawei said it was "disappointed to learn of the charges brought against the company today"
It said it didn't commit "any of the asserted violations" and that it "is not aware of any wrongdoing by Ms Meng".The statement said the
allegations of stealing trade secrets were the subject of a settled civil suit, in which a jury found "neither damages nor wilful and
malicious conduct".What are the chargesThe indictment, announced on Monday, alleges Huawei misled the US and a global bank about its
relationship with two subsidiaries, Huawei Device USA and Skycom Tech, to conduct business with Iran
Image copyrightReutersImage caption
The US announced charges against Huawei, several of its subsidiaries, and its chief
financial officer Meng Wanzhou
US President Donald Trump's administration has reinstated all sanctions on Iran removed under
a 2015 nuclear deal and recently imposed even stricter measures, hitting oil exports, shipping and banks
A second case alleges Huawei stole technology from T Mobile used to test smartphone durability, as well as obstructing justice and
committing wire fraud.The T-Mobile tech, known as Tappy, mimicked human fingers to test phones
In all, the US has laid 23 charges against the company."These charges lay bare Huawei's alleged blatant disregard for the laws of our
country and standard global business practices," said FBI Director Christopher Wray
Mr Wray said companies like Huawei "pose a dual threat to both our economic and national security"
What's the contextHuawei is one of the largest telecommunications equipment and services providers in the world, recently passing Apple to
become the second biggest smartphone maker by volume after Samsung.But the US and other Western nations have been concerned that the Chinese
government could use Huawei's technology to expand its spying ability, although the firm insists there is no government control.The arrest
of Ms Meng, the daughter of Huawei's founder, infuriated China.Image copyrightReutersImage caption
Meng Wanzhou is the
daughter of the company's founder
She was arrested on 1 December in Canada's western city of Vancouver at the request of the
US.She was later granted a C$10m (£5.7m; $7.6m) bail by a local court
But she is under surveillance 24 hours a day and must wear an electronic ankle tag.Chinese 'national champion' faces US justiceAnalysis by
Karishma Vaswani, Asia business correspondentHuawei is what the Chinese call a national champion
A private firm, tasked with China's ambitions to go into the world and lead the way.But now the full force of the US justice system is being
The allegations by the US Department of Justice are the most serious Huawei has ever seen, and go to the heart of the trade war between
China and the US.Huawei has consistently denied the allegations, and the firm's boss says it is being used as a pawn in power games between
the US and China.While the US says the charges against Huawei aren't about trade war, it is unlikely the Chinese will see it the same way
The charges come as the US and China prepare to hold high-level trade talks in Washington this week
US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross stated that the Huawei charges were "wholly separate" from ongoing trade negotiations with China
However, the indictment focuses on the alleged theft of US technology, which has been a major sticking point in trade negotiations
President Trump's administration has imposed tariffs on $250bn (£190bn) worth of Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to respond with its own
Both countries agreed last month to suspend new tariffs for 90 days to allow talks
