Growing concerns. The so-called Huawei-Gate has starkly exposed the European Union’s technical and political vulnerabilities amid expanding Chinese influence.
- In an exclusive interview with our sister website Formiche.net, Senator Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata—a retired diplomat and former Minister of Foreign Affairs who now serves on the Italian Senate’s EU Policies Committee—expressed deep concerns.
Not an isolated case. Senator Terzi argues that the Huawei case is not isolated but part of a broader strategic project by China to dominate global supply chains and influence industrial and political decisions in the West.
- Chinese companies are legally compelled to cooperate with the state, which operates closely with the Communist Party apparatus.
- Notably, Terzi pointed out that Huawei was founded by a former People’s Liberation Army officer, underscoring its deep state ties and its role in China’s global tech ambitions.
- He warned that the deliberate overlap between civil and military sectors in China’s innovation drive is both calculated and dangerous.
Economic imbalances and state subsidies. Drawing on the findings of the Draghi Report, Terzi explained that Huawei’s competitive edge—manifested in low prices and massive output—stems from aggressive state subsidies and overproduction strategies designed to create global economic imbalances.
- These measures pose systemic risks that have been flagged as central to China’s rapid economic ascent.
- Terzi linked the Huawei affair to findings from Italy’s 2025 intelligence report, which described China’s hybrid strategy of influence, spanning diplomacy, cyberspace, and information warfare.
- Reflecting on the Covid era, Terzi recalled how Huawei donated medical supplies to Italy, suggesting that these gestures served broader strategic aims by blending humanitarian aid with soft-power tactics.
Countering foreign interference. Senator Terzi’s committee is actively investigating foreign interference in the democratic processes of EU member states and candidate countries.
- Expert hearings have been launched to address the risks posed by disinformation.
- Terzi warns that China’s multifaceted influence—through tools like Confucius Institutes, aggressive economic practices, and control over critical data—is a “grave threat” to democracy.
- “China uses multiple levers: cultural tools like Confucius Institutes, aggressive economic practices, control over critical materials and data,” he said.
The big picture. The EU is responding by advancing legislative measures such as the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, along with initiatives like EU vs Disinformation and the European Democracy Shield.
- Terzi stresses the need for “prevention and detection at every level” to ensure these tools translate into absolute protection for Europe’s democracies.
