Chinese authorities have condemned a series of US indictments against telecoms giant Huawei as "unfair and immoral."
US prosecutors have charged the firm with fraud – and accused it stealing trade secrets from T-Mobile.
The allegations include bank fraud, obstruction of justice and theft of technology.
The company's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou is also being accused of misleading US banks over deals made in Iran.
Ms Meng was detained in Vancouver on December 1st and continues to fight extradition to the US.
Both Ms Meng and the company have denied any wrongdoing.
Indictments
The US Justice Department last night unsealed two indictments against the Smartphone maker – including counts of bank fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Thirteen charges were filed in New York and another 10 filed in Washington.
The Washington charges include an allegation that the company stole trade secrets from US Phone firm T-Mobile.
Huawei has insisted it settled its dispute with T-Mobile in 2017.
It centred on allegations that it had stolen an experimental robotics technology known as Tappy.
It was designed to mimic human fingers and was used to test smartphones that were in production.
The indictment claims that Huawei tried to obstruct justice when T-Mobile threatened to sue in a federal court in Seattle.
It also includes an internal Huawei announcement that the company offered bonuses to employees who successfully stole confidential information from other firms.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang during a daily briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Beijing, 29-01-2019. Image: AP Photo/Andy Wong
"Unfair and immoral"
Chinese authorities have condemned the indictments, a Ministry of Industry and Information Technology spokesperson describing them as "unfair and immoral."
The country’s foreign ministry today called on Washington to "stop the unreasonable crackdown" on Huawei and other companies.
A statement read on state TV news accused US authorities of mobilising state power smear some Chinese companies "in an attempt to strangle fair and just operations."
It said there was a "strong political motivation and political manipulation" behind the indictments.
Newstalk’s Business Editor Vincent Wall said US allies are likely to take notice of today's charges.
“All security allies of the US – the likes of the UK, Australia, New Zealand – are also beginning to question whether Huawei – which is china’s largest technology group and a huge player in the smartphone market – should be allowed to participate in tenders for 5G networks and other security sensitive telecommunications updates,” he said.
Acting US Attorney General Matt Whitaker, centre, speaks during the announcement of indictments against Chinese telecommunications companies including Huawei, 28-01-2018. Image: Jacquelyn Martin/AP/Press Association Images
Trade war
US President Donald Trump has said he would get involved in the Huawei case if it would help produce a trade agreement with China.
He has said he will step in if it would be good for what will "certainly be the largest trade deal ever made."
He added that talks were taking place with Beijing by phone and he would not raise tariffs on Chinese imports until he was sure about a deal.
Despite being completely locked out of the US, Huawei surpassed Apple earlier last year to become the number two smartphone maker in the world - only behind Samsung.
