South Africa won’t succumb to pressure from the US to stop using Huawei Technologies Co. equipment on its networks, according to the nation’s ambassador to the five-nation BRICS bloc, Anil Sooklal. Countries are facing increasing pressure from the US to take a harder stance on China as conflicts over Taiwan and battles for dominance in technologies from artificial intelligence to chips and quantum computing escalate.
The US has been leading a global campaign against Huawei, claiming that the company poses a security threat due to its close ties with the Chinese government. The US has urged its allies to ban Huawei from their 5G networks, and several countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, have followed suit.
However, Pretoria has refused to bow to US pressure and will continue to use Huawei equipment on its networks. Ambassador Sooklal stated that South Africa is an independent country and will make its own decisions based on its national interests.
Other nations, particularly those in the BRICS bloc (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), which have been working together to promote economic cooperation and development, are likely to be closely watching South Africa’s decision to continue using Huawei equipment.
EXCLUSIVE: ALL Questions Asked: Peter Obi Live on Parallel Facts!
POPULAR THIS MONTH:
BIG STORY: INEC Disabling FCT Results
