It is no secret that China is set on world domination. Militarily, technologically, culturally, and economically, the Chinese Communist Party’s stated goal is to displace the United States as the global superpower. And a key player in that strategy is Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, the world leader in 5G.
This emerging technology is set to create trillions of dollars in wealth and tens of millions of jobs over the next decade, and Huawei controls 30% of the global market, putting China in a strong position to seize the lion’s share of those gains (America’s top competitor has just 7%). In addition to filling the CCP’s coffers, 5G dominance also offers more direct benefits, such as access to data, control over foreign countries’ telecom infrastructure, and opportunities for espionage.
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Huawei executives constantly insist that the rest of the world has nothing to fear from them. The company’s website claims that Huawei is “wholly owned by its employees” and that “[n]o government or any third party holds shares in our company, intervenes in our operations, or influences our decision-making.” But as we all learned from TikTok, there’s no such thing as a private company in the People’s Republic of China.
Most defense leaders and U.S. policymakers view Huawei as a commercial extension of the CCP. Intelligence chiefs, including the directors of the CIA and FBI, have warned Americans against using Huawei products, warning that the company could conduct “undetected espionage” via backdoors in its wireless networking equipment. An FBI investigation even found that Huawei equipment can be used to disrupt U.S. military communications, including those related to America’s nuclear arsenal.
On Feb. 3, Huawei announced that its XHUD-AR augmented reality head-up display can identify and mark surrounding vehicles and pedestrians, compounding concerns about the extensive datasets China might be obtaining from the company.
The company already faces numerous restrictions in the United States.
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In 2017 Congress outlawed the use of Huawei equipment in some Department of Defense networks, and the following year it “prohibited U.S. agencies from obtaining equipment, systems, and services that use Huawei equipment or services as a substantial or critical component.”
In 2019, the Commerce Department added Huawei to its entity list, making it difficult for the telecom giant to sell its products in America. That same year, the annual National Defense Authorization Act banned the federal government from using Huawei’s devices. Then, in 2022, the Federal Communications Commission stepped in and prohibited the import or sale of any new Huawei products, citing the risk of cyberattacks.
This year, even more restrictions have come to be. The 2025 NDAA, which was signed into law in December, contained language banning Defense Department contractors (which include some of America’s largest companies) from selling semiconductors, or tools for making semiconductors, to Huawei.
All of this is good. We shouldn’t be importing key telecom infrastructure from a geopolitical rival that’s only too happy to use it against us. Nor should we be selling that same company the components it needs to surpass us technologically.
But there’s only so much Congress can do. If we want to prevent Huawei from winning the global 5G race, the Trump administration will need to work with its FCC, Commerce Department, Department of Justice, and intelligence community in countering China’s technological dominance.
For example, the Department of Commerce should strengthen U.S. export controls on advanced technologies. By ensuring that critical telecom and semiconductor technologies are not sold to Chinese companies such as Huawei, the U.S. can slow China’s technological advancements while encouraging domestic innovation. Strengthening partnerships with allied nations to establish alternative supply chains and prevent reliance on Chinese infrastructure will further bolster American competitiveness and national security.
The Department of Justice should also ensure that there are enough American companies to challenge the Chinese behemoth in the marketplace. So far, the best we have is Cisco, which boasts only one-sixth of Huawei’s market share.
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Once Gail Slater is confirmed and begins leading the DOJ’s Antitrust Division, she could ensure as much by reversing the department’s recent decision to block HPE’s acquisition of Juniper. This merger would create a major new player in the telecom industry that could compete with Huawei around the world. Slater understands that, contrary what the Biden DOJ and Federal Trade Commission frequently argued, only American companies that harm consumer welfare (such as Big Tech behemoths) should receive challenges from the government and that American innovation is crucially needed to protect the U.S. against the threat of China’s 5G dominance.
Make no mistake: If a CCP-linked company achieves global 5G supremacy, the 21st century will belong to Beijing. The U.S. cannot afford to be complacent. A strong, unified effort across government agencies, private industry, and international allies is essential to ensuring that American innovation leads the next era of technological advancement. By fostering domestic competition, securing critical supply chains, and blocking China’s ambitions in key industries, the U.S. can preserve its economic and national security for generations to come.
Retired Col. Robert L. Maness, host of The Rob Maness Show, is a 32-year U.S. Air Force combat veteran and was a member of the Trump campaign’s Veterans and Military Families for Trump Coalition. Follow him on X @RobManess.