China warns about discriminatory potential of EU cybersecurity laws

A spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry has expressed concerns over the European Union's proposed cybersecurity legislation, warning that it could lead to discriminatory practices against Chinese companies.

According to reports, the EU is pushing ahead with rules that would effectively ban Chinese firms from participating in its critical infrastructure projects. The legislation is said to require the removal and replacement of existing Chinese hardware within five years, potentially costing hundreds of billions of euros.

On Friday, ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that the Chinese government has submitted its assessment of the proposed legislation to the EU and urged the bloc to seriously consider Beijing's concerns.

Lin expressed China's willingness to engage in dialogue with the EU on the issue, saying Beijing was hopeful that the bloc would adopt a comprehensive, objective and positive view of China-EU economic and trade relations. He called on the EU to abide by World Trade Organization rules and market principles, and to avoid actions that would harm others without benefiting itself.

Lin warned that, if the EU proceeds with the legislation against Chinese enterprises, China will take resolute measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its companies.