Chinese mobile phone maker Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., along with ZTE Corp., are facing a ban that would prevent their phones and equipment being used by the U.S. government under proposed legislation that is ostensibly seeking to prevent spying by the Chinese government.

The bill, H.R. 4747: “Defending U.S. Government Communications Act,” put forward by Congressman Mike Conway (R-Texas) Friday, not onlywould ban the use of Huawei and ZTE equipment but would also bar the federal government from contracting with firms that use equipment produced by the two companies.

“Chinese commercial technology is a vehicle for the Chinese government to spy on United States federal agencies, posing a severe national security threat,” Conaway said in a statement. “Allowing Huawei, ZTE, and other related entities access to U.S. government communications would be inviting Chinese surveillance into all aspects of our lives.”

Conaway’s worries over Chinese government spying via Chinese-made smartphones isn’t unique. AT&T Inc. dropped plans to sell Huawei phones Jan. 8 over similar concerns.

Whether the security concerns are justified is another question. It’s recognized that the Chinese government, like the U.S. government itself, does undertake state-sponsored hacking, but targeting phones made in the country is suggested by some — the Chinese government in particular — to reek more of protectionism cloaked by paranoia.

“It is ridiculous that such a mindset reminiscent of “reds under the bed” McCarthyism still holds sway in the U.S. in this era of globalization, when no product can be manufactured without global supply chains,” an editorial originally published in China Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese government, said Friday. “In fact, as an industry leader, Huawei has won trust in 170 markets based on the integrity of its products.”

The same editorial goes on to note that the bans may have more to do with protectionism, saying that the “U.S. continually criticizes China for not opening its market wider and not providing a level playing field for foreign companies. Yet its blocking of deals involving Chinese companies in sectors where it has traditionally had an advantage shows its criticisms have more validity if directed at the U.S. market.”

It’s not clear if and when the proposed legislation will move forward in the House of Representatives, but The Hill reported that four Republicans have signed on as cosponsors, meaning that it may find broad support.

Photo: Duncan Riley