Oxford University suspends Huawei donations and sponsorships – BBC
What happened: The University of Oxford has suspended new donations and sponsorships from Huawei Technologies. The university said the decision is linked to public concerns raised in recent months about the British government’s partnerships with the company. However, the university said it would continue existing research contracts where funding from Huawei had been received or committed.
Why it’s important: Huawei is facing mounting scrutiny from several governments about whether its equipment poses risks to national security. The US government has also accused Huawei of stealing trade secrets and violating sanctions on Iran and other countries. Following Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou’s high-profile arrest in Canada in December, an employee of the company was detained and charged with spying for China by Polish authorities earlier this month. Huawei holds a significant presence in the UK. In recent months the government has faced increasing pressure to clamp down on the Chinese company.