China threatens EU firms over cybersecurity plans targeting Chinese companies

China will hit EU firms with reciprocal measures if the bloc targets Chinese firms as planned under its proposed cybersecurity regulations, Beijing has warned.

In a 30-page document submitted to the European Commission on Friday, China’s commerce ministry explicitly warned that broad retaliation was on the table if firms such as Huawei and ZTE were penalised by the law, which was announced in January but is still in draft form.

“If the EU designates China as a ‘country posing cybersecurity concerns’ or lists Chinese entities as ‘high risk suppliers’ to phase out equipment manufactured by Chinese businesses in a compulsory manner and exclude Chinese products and services from the EU market, China can launch relevant investigations into the EU or EU businesses, and take reciprocal measures,” stated a submission from the ministry in response to the commission’s request for feedback.

Read more at South China Morning Post