US welcomes Australia's ban on Chinese 5G network
(Baonghean.vn) - On August 4, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed Canberra's decision to ban Chinese technology company Huawei from participating in the deployment of the 5G network in Australia.
Speaking to reporters in Sydney, Mr. Pompeo emphasized: "Australia has courageously and independently sounded the alarm about the risks from China's ambition to deploy 5G networks."
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| Australia bans Chinese technology company Huawei from participating in 5G network deployment. Photo: AFP |
The statement was made at a joint press conference after the "2+2" security dialogue between the US and Australian Defense and Foreign Ministers, in the context of Washington being embroiled in an escalating trade war with Beijing.
Both Secretary of State Pompeo and US Defense Secretary Mark Esper have criticized China's growing military presence in the Indo-Pacific.
For her part, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne stressed the importance of the US in geopolitical stability in the Pacific. Ms. Payne said: "It is important to affirm that without strong US engagement, the region that we all want and need will not be achieved."
The agenda for the annual US-Australia security dialogue also includes the possibility of Canberra joining a US-led maritime force to protect commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds described the request as “extremely serious and complex”, stressing that Canberra was seriously considering the request.