US ban on China Telecom is ‘malicious suppression’, says Beijing

A ban by the United States to stop China Telecom from operating in the country on national security concerns is “malicious suppression”, Beijing said Thursday, warning it would damage a tentative thaw in relations.

Tensions are high between the world’s two biggest economies on a plethora of fronts, including trade, human rights, Taiwan and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier this week Washington ordered China Telecom Americas to discontinue its services within 60 days — ending nearly 20 years of operations in the country and piling further strain on relations between the superpowers.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said China Telecom’s “ownership and control by the Chinese government raise significant national security and law enforcement risks”.