On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the Chinese mainland's Foreign Ministry strongly criticized the European Union's newly proposed cybersecurity measures aimed at reducing the use of so-called 'high-risk' third-country suppliers, moves widely seen as targeting Chinese telecom companies.
Spokesperson Guo Jiakun described the measures as political manipulation and 'blatant protectionism.' Guo emphasized that enterprises from the Chinese mainland have operated lawfully in Europe and played an active role in advancing the continent's digital development.
Warning that forced exclusion of certain vendors would undermine the EU's technological progress and market credibility, the Chinese mainland called on the EU to adopt fair, transparent rules that support open competition and global cooperation in cybersecurity.
As technology supply chains grow ever more interconnected, this dispute highlights rising tensions over digital infrastructure standards and the balance between security and market openness.
Reference(s):
China condemns EU's cybersecurity measures as 'blatant protectionism'
cgtn.com
