Government assures has “mechanisms” to prevent Chinese espionage through 5G

Eduardo González The Government has assured, in response to a parliamentary question from the People’s Party, that Spain has adequate “mechanisms” “to identify and control the risks associated with 5G technology suppliers”, in reference to the espionage activities supposedly carried out by China through telecommunications companies. On December 11, Pablo Hispán and Belén Hoyo, MPs of the People’s Parliamentary Group in Congress, registered a written question to the Government in which they claim, based on information from The Wall Street Journal, that “Beijing is carrying out espionage activities on an unprecedented scale” and mobilizing, to do so, “Chinese security agencies, private companies and civilians in its desire to weaken rival states and strengthen the country's economy.” For this reason, the PP asks, “in light of the information on the intelligence activity of the Chinese Government, as well as NATO's strategic doctrine”, if “the Government plans to veto access to 5G to any telecommunications company in that country” and “when will it apply the EU regulations on the access of Chinese companies to telecommunications networks”. In its response, registered on February 13 and published this week by the Official Gazette of Congress, the Government assures that “it has adopted a firm and proactive position to guarantee the security of 5G telecommunications networks, in line with European regulations”. This position, it continues, is reflected in “the approval of Royal Decree-Law 7/2022, of March 29, on requirements to guarantee the security of fifth-generation electronic communications networks and services, as well as in the National Security Scheme for 5G networks and services, approved by Royal Decree 443/2024, of April 30”. In this regulatory framework, it continues, “Spain has enabled mechanisms to identify and control the risks associated with 5G technology suppliers.” Specifically, the Government explains, the law allows certain suppliers to be declared as “high-risk suppliers”, taking into account both technical factors and possible exposure to external interference. “This declaration can be made at any time, as a preventive measure, and entails the possibility of restricting or vetoing their access to the network,” it adds. In addition, the Executive assures, “in areas considered critical for reasons of national security, the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Civil Service may exclude the installation of 5G equipment from any supplier, without the need for it to have previously been declared high risk.” “This measure is applied on a case-by-case basis, in order to safeguard Spain's strategic interests,” it specifies. The Government also assures that “Spain is already applying European Union regulations on cybersecurity of 5G telecommunications networks, especially through the full implementation of the ‘Cybersecurity Toolbox 5G’, approved by the European Commission.” “This framework includes strategic and technical measures aimed at mitigating the security risks of 5G and later networks,” it adds. Therefore, it continues, “Spain has already begun to effectively apply EU regulations to control the access of foreign companies to telecommunications networks, especially 5G.” “The current regulations are not only in force, but are applied through a preventive, flexible approach adapted to national security needs,” it concludes.

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