Does Huawei's "mask diplomacy" win 5G contracts? EU gives standard answer

According to foreign media reports, EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said on Wednesday that he believes that Huawei has no unscrupulous motivation to donate masks to the EU. He pointed out that solidarity is the best way to respond to a global coronavirus outbreak.

Thierry Breton was the former Minister of Economy of France, the former CEO of French telecommunications operator Orange and IT giant Atos, and was approved by the European Parliament to be appointed Commissioner of the European Union's Internal Market.

The report pointed out that Huawei, the world's largest Chinese telecommunications equipment maker, has provided millions of protective masks and gloves to Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Poland, Greece and Switzerland, which has also attracted criticism from some people.

Critics have said that Huawei's donation of masks to Europe is referred to by some as "mask diplomacy", a move that could be a strategy aimed at winning lucrative 5G contracts.

It is reported that in January this year, the European Union announced 5G guidelines to ban Huawei from participating in core infrastructure network construction.

In this regard, Thierry Breton disagreed. He said the donations were by no means seeking returns. "Absolutely not. I've been a CEO myself, and I know it's not the case," Thierry Breton said.

Thierry Breton pointed out that if the government where the company does business seeks help, the CEO has an obligation to help. Thierry Breton said that no CEO will make such a donation because he wants to be rewarded.

At the same time, he pointed out that during the outbreak of bird flu in China, European companies with subsidiaries in China also made their own contributions.

It is reported that Thierry Breton originally hoped to visit China in January to provide assistance, but was limited by safety and security issues.

Still, he said that instead of arguing who did more, it would be better to work together to tackle the crisis. "Only if we are united, people are united, nations are united, a continent is united, and continents are united, can we overcome the current epidemic," Thierry Breton emphasized.