By blaming China for all its ills, the West cannot hide its weakness

Following the United States and Australia, Japan is mulling banning Chinese telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE from participating in its 5G network on the grounds of national security.

The Japanese government, as the Sankei Shimbun said, would adopt strict security criteria that would effectively keep the two companies out of its 5G network.

Earlier, Australia issued a security guidance statement, saying companies that were "likely to be subject to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government" could present a security risk. Without singling out Huawei and ZTE, the statement effectively banned the two Chinese telecom giants from Australia's next-generation telecom infrastructure.