The European Union (EU) Commission has begun steps that will effectively oust Chinese corporations such as Huawei and ZTE from core infrastructure in Europe. The move targets not only fifth-generation (5G) networks but also solar energy systems and security scanners—critical infrastructure tied directly to national security.
Experts said the EU, which previously clashed with China over the medical devices procurement market, has now signaled its intent to fundamentally block "China risk" in digital and energy infrastructure—the front line of the tech power struggle.
According to a roundup of foreign reports on the 19th, including the Financial Times (FT) in the United Kingdom and Deutsche Welle (DW) in Germany, the EU Commission is pushing measures to exclude suppliers of Chinese-made equipment from member states' core infrastructure. The plan is to elevate what had been recommendations restricting "high-risk vendors" into legally binding obligations. The proposal is expected to be officially announced soon.
The measure goes beyond simply swapping out telecom equipment. The EU plans to revise the Cybersecurity Act to fundamentally block Chinese corporations such as Huawei and ZTE from accessing Europe's neural network. It would cover not only telecommunications networks but also solar systems—an area of renewable energy Europe considers vital—as well as security scanners at airports and ports. The concern is that Chinese corporations could collect sensitive data through equipment or paralyze systems in a contingency.
The EU's move is in line with tensions that flared last year in the medical devices sector. At the time, the EU launched an investigation under the International Procurement Instrument (IPI), saying China discriminates against European corporations in its domestic medical devices market. Having leveraged the public procurement market to pressure China, the EU is now raising barriers to entry in the private infrastructure market under the banner of security.
The Atlantic Council, a U.S. think tank, said in a recent report that "the EU Commission has pivoted sharply over the past decade from engagement with China to 'de-risking,'" analyzing that it is "because China's state-led economy and subsidies are seen as a structural threat to Europe."
Leaders of major European countries, including Germany and France, are backing the effort. France President Emmanuel Macron and Germany Chancellor Friedrich Merz attended the European Digital Sovereignty Summit in Berlin, Germany, last year and stressed the need for Europe's technological independence. Citing experts, Deutsche Welle reported that there is a sense of crisis that Europe, lagging behind the United States and China in future industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and cloud computing, must no longer be dependent on external technology.
The problem is expense and feasibility. Alternatives to Chinese equipment—such as products from Nokia of Finland or Ericsson of Sweden—are much more expensive. Governments and telecom companies across Europe, which are struggling with finances, would have to shoulder significant additional expense. The global telecom industry has assessed that Huawei expanded its equipment market by offering prices 20%–40% lower than competitors. The GSMA estimated that excluding Chinese equipment could increase Europe's 5G deployment expense by about 55 billion euros (about 94 trillion won).
The solar industry, in particular, is pushing back hard. Huawei is a major supplier in the inverter market, a key component of solar panels. Related groups, including Solar Power Europe, argue that Europe will struggle to meet its carbon neutrality goals without affordable Chinese components.
China immediately objected to the move. According to the Financial Times, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson said, "Some countries' exclusion of Chinese telecommunications corporations will only undermine their own technological development and cause massive fiscal losses," criticizing it as "a violation of market principles and fair competition rules."
Experts said it remains to be seen whether Europe's attempt will lead to actual legislation and implementation. For the EU Commission to enforce the measures, it must first negotiate with the European Parliament and member states. The key will be how much individual member states, which hold authority over national security, will accept Brussels' control.
Citing experts, Deutsche Welle predicted that "Europe must draw up concrete plans on whether it can withstand Chinese pressure and introduce regulations that are actually enforceable," adding, "This will be a very difficult task."