Japan to ban Huawei, ZTE from govt contracts: Report

US intelligence agencies allege Huawei is linked to China's government and that its equipment could contain "back doors" for use by spies. PHOTO: REUTERS

TOKYO (REUTERS) - Japan is set to effectively ban government purchases of telecommunications products from China's Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp over fears of intelligence leaks and cyber attacks, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Friday (Dec 7).

The government is expected to revise its internal rules on procurement as early as next Monday (Dec 10). It is unlikely to name the two companies, to avoid aggravating China, but Huawei and ZTE are to be subject to the ban, the report said, citing a government source.

The report follows a decision by the United States this year to ban government purchases of Huawei gear.

US intelligence agencies allege Huawei is linked to China's government and that its equipment could contain "back doors" for use by spies, although no evidence has been produced publicly and the firm has denied the claims.

In addition, Australia and New Zealand have blocked Huawei from building 5G networks, while Britain's BT Group said on Wednesday that it was removing Huawei's equipment from the core of its existing 3G and 4G mobile operations and would not use the Chinese company in central parts of the next network.

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