In another major blow to Chinese multinational telecommunications equipment manufacturer – Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., the United States (U.S.) based Google LLC has barred the Chinese firm from some of the updates to the Android Operating System (O.S.).
The new designs of Huawei smartphones will not have access to some features of the Google apps. The move came after U.S. President – Donald Trump’s Administration added Huawei to a list of companies that American firms cannot trade with unless they have a licence.
Speaking on the occasion, a Google Spokesperson said, “We are complying with the order and reviewing the implications.”
On the other hand, Huawei said that it would continue to provide security updates and after sales services to all existing Huawei and Honor smartphone and tablets.
What does this mean?
This means that existing Huawei smartphone users will be able to update apps and push through security fixes, as well as update Google Play services. However, when Google will launch the next version of Android later this year, it may not be available on Huawei devices. Also, Huawei devices may also not have apps such as YouTube and Maps in future.
The issue of national security
U.S. has raised concerns that Huawei and its products pose a threat to national security of U.S. as they believe that all the information with Huawei is being shared with People’s Republic of China. Huawei has always maintained it stand that it does not pose any threat and that it is independent from the Chinese Government.
Background to the trouble
The Chief Financial Officer of Huawei – Meng Wanzhou (also the daughter of Huawei’s founder, Ren Zhengfei) was arrested in Vancouver by Canadian Authorities on December 1, 2018. She has been accused of bank fraud with regards to sanctions against Iran. Meng was later released on bail with restrictions on freedom of movement. She is presently undergoing court trial with regards to extradition request placed by U.S.
She has filed a lawsuit in the British Columbia’s Supreme Court in Canada accusing Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Federal Government of unlawfully detaining her and interrogating her for 3 hours without even advising her of Constitutional Rights. Besides, her electronic gadgets, including an iPad and luggage were illegally searched without even informing her that she was under arrest.
The U.S. – China trade war
Another factor responsible for the move is the ongoing U.S. – China trade war. For the records, the Tariff Policy Commission of China’s Cabinet has recently announced that it will increase the tariff on U.S. goods worth U.S. $ 60 billion, from 10% to 25%, from June 1, 2019. This was done in response to U.S.’s move of increasing tariff on Chinese goods worth U.S. $ 200 billion, from 10% to 25%.
