Huawei has made a peace offering that deserves consideration

AMERICA HAS unleashed a barrage of actions against Huawei, a Chinese telecoms giant which it believes spies for the Chinese government and threatens Western interests because of its dominant role in 5G technologies. Since May, American firms have mostly been banned from supplying Huawei. The Justice Department wants Canada to extradite a top executive who is accused of sanctions-busting. Uncle Sam’s diplomats have urged other countries to stop using Huawei gear. America’s aim has been to cripple a business that it views as a menace.

As we report this week from Shenzhen, where Huawei is based, the plan has not worked. True, Huawei is suffering. Western banks are wary of it. Silicon Valley suppliers and the owners of datasets have shied away. And on September 19th Huawei, which as well as building networks is the world’s second-biggest smartphone-maker, faces the humiliation of launching a new handset that lacks popular American apps such as Google Maps and WhatsApp.