Long-time Huawei US gov't relations chief Bill Plummer just self-published a book on his time at the company. It offers a bit of a window into Huawei and background on big events like the congressional hearings. amazon.com/Huidu-Inside-W…
He describes a broad lack of trust of foreign employees and an HQ that often made decisions without regard for the DC office opinions. Despite being excluded from top decision making, which happened in Shenzhen HQ, he says he doesn't think Beijing “unusually influenced” Huawei.
He attributes poor decisionmaking in managing DC to cultural clashes and HQ stubbornness. He also argues that Huawei’s mismanagement of US gov’t pressures has led to a cancer that is spreading, with other countries now beginning to follow US cues in blocking Huawei.
He says Huawei’s reticence with the USG often stemmed from fear of angering founder Ren Zhengfei or worse the CCP: “Huawei was acting out of fear of going sideways of the Chinese government, of opening up another can of worms..."
"Any information Huawei might provide however innocent or innocuous, such as the names of the founder’s superiors when in th emilitary - could be considered controlled information by the Chinese government, just as they would have been by the U.S. government.”
He says the Chinese manager brought in to lead the DC office from 2017 (presumably Regent Zhang) was incompetent, ill-informed and often did not show up to work. He argues it was part of a growing disdain by Chinese employees there for American employees.
“Where five years earlier the company had sought out Western - even American - employees for their expertise and guidance, by 2015, and until today, the preference when it comes to Westerners is servility,” he writes.
He brings up his own push to head the DC office: “I tried once again to engage my boss on the prospects of my assuming the leadership role in the Washington Office..."
"He chuckled - actually laughed - and, as before said ‘no that can never happen.’ He went on to explain that the model is always for a Chinese to take the lead in a critical office like Washington.”
He says FBI agents regularly approached employees at the DC office, despite there being no investigation. He also recounts a meeting he had with the NSA, though in all cases, the meetings are quite anodyne.
On Australia he says: “Huawei had the benefit of a local management board comprised of illustrious former government officials that were quick to come to the company’s public defense and to balance the public discourse.”
He argues that trade confrontation will encourage China to increase efforts to make an entirely domestic, vertical electronics supply chain.
And repeats a point he's made many times: equipment from any vendor is as much a risk as Huawei’s, since supply chains are global/interlinked, and unwitting compromise can happen to any company. A lack of diversity in kit by denying Huawei is actually a bigger threat to security
He says Huawei’s reticence with the USG often stemmed from fear of angering founder Ren Zhengfei or worse the CCP: “Huawei was acting out of fear of going sideways of the Chinese government, of opening up another can of worms..."
"Any information Huawei might provide however innocent or innocuous, such as the names of the founder’s superiors when in th emilitary - could be considered controlled information by the Chinese government, just as they would have been by the U.S. government.”
He says the Chinese manager brought in to lead the DC office from 2017 (presumably Regent Zhang) was incompetent, ill-informed and often did not show up to work. He argues it was part of a growing disdain by Chinese employees there for American employees.
“Where five years earlier the company had sought out Western - even American - employees for their expertise and guidance, by 2015, and until today, the preference when it comes to Westerners is servility,” he writes.
He brings up his own push to head the DC office: “I tried once again to engage my boss on the prospects of my assuming the leadership role in the Washington Office..."
"He chuckled - actually laughed - and, as before said ‘no that can never happen.’ He went on to explain that the model is always for a Chinese to take the lead in a critical office like Washington.”
He says FBI agents regularly approached employees at the DC office, despite there being no investigation. He also recounts a meeting he had with the NSA, though in all cases, the meetings are quite anodyne.
On Australia he says: “Huawei had the benefit of a local management board comprised of illustrious former government officials that were quick to come to the company’s public defense and to balance the public discourse.”
He argues that trade confrontation will encourage China to increase efforts to make an entirely domestic, vertical electronics supply chain.
And finally, he nonetheless has harsh words for DC, and calls out Congress for what he says is sinophobia and the witch hunt against Huawei.
