Huawei donates shipment of medical masks to B.C.
WHILE HUAWEI CFO IS UNDER HOUSE ARREST IN VANCOUVER 
© BRYAN R. SMITH Chinese-based telecommunications
giant Huawei Technologies has quietly donated medical masks to B.C.
VICTORIA — Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies has quietly has donated a large shipment of protective masks for B.C. health care workers, Postmedia News has learned.
The donation was accepted by the B.C. government late last week, but not acknowledged publicly when Health Minister Adrian Dix announced Monday the arrival of almost one million new masks. Hundreds of thousands of those masks, both simple protective and N95 masks, came from China through Huawei.
“The province has many supply sources included transfers from our federal partners and a variety of domestic and international suppliers,” Dix told Postmedia. “We don’t share details about our suppliers.”
But Huawei confirmed the donations after being asked directly for comment by Postmedia News.
“We’ve provided masks and other equipment,” said Alykhan Velshi, vice-president of corporate affairs. “The first shipment arrived last week. The quantity is not something we intend to promote or publicize.”
It is nonetheless a politically sensitive situation, given that Huawei’s chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested in Vancouver in 2018 and remains the subject of a long extradition process in B.C. Supreme Court. The United States is seeking the extradition of Meng on fraud charges, in relation to alleged violations of U.S. sanctions against Iran.
The arrest has strained the relationship between China and Canada. China and Huawei have lobbied Canada hard for Meng’s release. China detained two Canadians shortly after Meng’s arrest, which many viewed as retaliation. Neither Canadian has been released. B.C. last year cancel some planned provincial trade missions to China as a result.
Dix cited the “challenging international market” for personal protective equipment, including masks, gowns and ventilators, as the rationale for refusing to disclose where B.C. obtains its gear.
“Right now the supply situation around the world is intense,” he said. “There are well over 100 countries dealing with COVID-19. And so it’s fair to say in the months that come there will be lots of questions and I expect to answer questions in detail and as frankly as possible. Right now, our focus is on getting protective equipment for our health care workers and others that need them.
“Right now, that means not talking as much as we normally would about the source of where our masks come from, but rather getting them on the ground first.”
Huawei said it is simply trying to help.
“Many companies are making similar efforts and we’re so fortunate we’re in a position logically and financially to help out as much as we have been,” said Velshi.
“We’re in a unique position in that we have 1,200 employees in communities across Canada. So we see the need. As a global multinational we operate in more than 180 countries, so we’re able to locate and access our supply. Our scale and logistical capabilities mean we’re able to move fast.”
Huawei has reached out to other provinces to ask if they would like donations of protective equipment, though not all have accepted. The supplies appear to come from a stockpile Huawei accumulated at the start of the COVID-19 crisis, sourced mostly in China and some other countries.
Huawei is also lobbying Canada to allow the use of its telecommunications equipment in the emerging 5G wireless sector. Australia, New Zealand and the United States have banned Huawei 5G technology for fear it may facilitate spying by the Chinese government.
Protective masks are part of personal protective equipment that is becoming scarce across the world as countries fight COVID-19.
“I am concerned about our supplies, and that’s why we are devoting so much energy to it,” said Dix.
On Thursday, the federal government received a shipment of approximately 10 million masks, which will be redistributed to the provinces. Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s public health officer, said the province is also exploring ways to possibly clean or sanitize masks, gowns and other personal protective equipment for reuse.
B.C. this week launched a supply hub , where anyone with masks, gowns, face shields, chemical disinfectants or the ability to manufacture gear can work with the province to provide such equipment.
“Lots of people want to help us,” said Dix. “This is a place for people to go.”
rshaw@postmedia.com
twitter.com/robshaw_vansun
VICTORIA — Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies has quietly has donated a large shipment of protective masks for B.C. health care workers, Postmedia News has learned.
The donation was accepted by the B.C. government late last week, but not acknowledged publicly when Health Minister Adrian Dix announced Monday the arrival of almost one million new masks. Hundreds of thousands of those masks, both simple protective and N95 masks, came from China through Huawei.
“The province has many supply sources included transfers from our federal partners and a variety of domestic and international suppliers,” Dix told Postmedia. “We don’t share details about our suppliers.”
But Huawei confirmed the donations after being asked directly for comment by Postmedia News.
“We’ve provided masks and other equipment,” said Alykhan Velshi, vice-president of corporate affairs. “The first shipment arrived last week. The quantity is not something we intend to promote or publicize.”
It is nonetheless a politically sensitive situation, given that Huawei’s chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested in Vancouver in 2018 and remains the subject of a long extradition process in B.C. Supreme Court. The United States is seeking the extradition of Meng on fraud charges, in relation to alleged violations of U.S. sanctions against Iran.
The arrest has strained the relationship between China and Canada. China and Huawei have lobbied Canada hard for Meng’s release. China detained two Canadians shortly after Meng’s arrest, which many viewed as retaliation. Neither Canadian has been released. B.C. last year cancel some planned provincial trade missions to China as a result.
Dix cited the “challenging international market” for personal protective equipment, including masks, gowns and ventilators, as the rationale for refusing to disclose where B.C. obtains its gear.
“Right now the supply situation around the world is intense,” he said. “There are well over 100 countries dealing with COVID-19. And so it’s fair to say in the months that come there will be lots of questions and I expect to answer questions in detail and as frankly as possible. Right now, our focus is on getting protective equipment for our health care workers and others that need them.
“Right now, that means not talking as much as we normally would about the source of where our masks come from, but rather getting them on the ground first.”
Huawei said it is simply trying to help.
“Many companies are making similar efforts and we’re so fortunate we’re in a position logically and financially to help out as much as we have been,” said Velshi.
“We’re in a unique position in that we have 1,200 employees in communities across Canada. So we see the need. As a global multinational we operate in more than 180 countries, so we’re able to locate and access our supply. Our scale and logistical capabilities mean we’re able to move fast.”
Huawei has reached out to other provinces to ask if they would like donations of protective equipment, though not all have accepted. The supplies appear to come from a stockpile Huawei accumulated at the start of the COVID-19 crisis, sourced mostly in China and some other countries.
Huawei is also lobbying Canada to allow the use of its telecommunications equipment in the emerging 5G wireless sector. Australia, New Zealand and the United States have banned Huawei 5G technology for fear it may facilitate spying by the Chinese government.
Protective masks are part of personal protective equipment that is becoming scarce across the world as countries fight COVID-19.
“I am concerned about our supplies, and that’s why we are devoting so much energy to it,” said Dix.
On Thursday, the federal government received a shipment of approximately 10 million masks, which will be redistributed to the provinces. Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s public health officer, said the province is also exploring ways to possibly clean or sanitize masks, gowns and other personal protective equipment for reuse.
B.C. this week launched a supply hub , where anyone with masks, gowns, face shields, chemical disinfectants or the ability to manufacture gear can work with the province to provide such equipment.
“Lots of people want to help us,” said Dix. “This is a place for people to go.”
rshaw@postmedia.com
twitter.com/robshaw_vansun
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