WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) today introduced a resolution declaring, “Chinese telecommunications companies such as Huawei and ZTE pose serious threats to the national security of the United States and allies of the United States.”

Many U.S. partners and allies are considering relying on these Chinese telecommunications companies to build their 5G networks, even after the U.S. government has called on these countries to abandon utilizing Huawei and ZTE. While some U.S. allies are heeding U.S. warnings regarding Chinese telecommunications equipment, others have not.

Allowing Huawei equipment to be installed in the United States or our allied nations would introduce serious risks in our communication systems. This bipartisan Resolution will complement the Administration’s efforts and show that the United States Congress has serious concerns about using certain Chinese telecommunications equipment in global 5G infrastructure.

“Our allies and partners should understand the risk Chinese telecommunications companies like Huawei and ZTE pose to their networks and our ability to communicate with each other in a secure manner,” said Senator Coons. “I urge the administration to continue its work with our allies so they are fully able to protect the 5G networks of the future.”

“Huawei and ZTE telecommunications products are not safe for the U.S. or any of our allies around the globe,” said Senator Gardner. “Our intelligence community has made it abundantly clear Huawei and ZTE put the security of our communications at risk and it is concerning that allies like Germany are considering relying on their products.  Now Congress is moving in a bipartisan fashion to emphasize what this Administration, previous Administrations, and many of our allies have said about the risks of Huawei and ZTE. It is my hope all of our allies in Europe and around the globe hear us loud and clear.”

“In today’s increasingly connected world, we must work with our allies and partners to animate technology with our values, especially in 5G networks,” said Senator Markey. “Chinese law requires its companies, including Huawei and ZTE, to fully cooperate with the Chinese Communist Party. If we don’t address emerging threats collectively, we stand to jeopardize our national security, the rules of the road, and the very underpinnings of the international system.”