EU Requires Phased Removal of Chinese Equipment from Vital Infrastructure

JAKARTA - The European Union is preparing a firm step to force the gradual elimination of Chinese-made equipment from important infrastructure in the region. This policy has the potential to remove companies such as Huawei and ZTE from telecommunications networks and solar energy systems in member countries, in the next few months.

The Financial Times reported on Saturday, January 17, that the EU's latest cybersecurity proposal would turn the current voluntary regime of restrictions on high-risk vendors into a legal obligation for all member states. The move is said to be part of efforts to strengthen strategic resilience and the security of Europe's vital networks.

"The current framework is not strong enough because its implementation depends on the will of each country," a number of EU officials quoted by VOI from the Financial Times said. They added that a mandatory approach is needed to ensure uniform security standards across the bloc.

However, not all countries have welcomed this policy enthusiastically. Telecommunications operators in large markets such as Germany and Spain have previously reportedly rejected the implementation of strict restrictions on Chinese vendors. They reasoned that there were high costs and the risk of service disruption.

According to the report, the official proposal will be presented on Tuesday, January 20. The schedule for the removal of Chinese equipment will later be adjusted to the level of risk faced by the EU as well as the characteristics of each sector. Cost factors and the availability of alternative suppliers will also be the main considerations.

As of this writing, the European Commission, China's Ministry of Commerce, as well as Huawei and ZTE have not responded to requests for comment.

Pressure on Chinese technology companies in Europe is increasing. Huawei, for example, is considering the future of its newly completed factory in eastern France, amid the European government's increasingly harsh stance on the use of Chinese equipment and the slow implementation of 5G networks in the region.

The United States was the first to take similar steps by banning the approval of new telecommunications equipment from Huawei and ZTE since 2022, and actively encouraging its allies in Europe to follow this policy.

Geopolitically, this EU move underscores the West's shifting strategy of viewing technology not just as a trade matter, but as part of national security. The world is entering a phase where routers, BTS towers, and solar panels are playing on the global political chessboard.