Huawei's chairman warned Tuesday that more U.S. moves to increase pressure on the Chinese tech giant might trigger retaliation by Beijing that could damage its worldwide industry.
Huawei Technologies Ltd., which makes smartphones and network equipment, reported that its 2019 sales rose by double digits despite curbs imposed in May on its access to U.S. components and technology. But the chairman, Eric Xu, said 2020 will be its "most difficult year" as Huawei struggles with the sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic.
Huawei is at the center of tensions with Washington over technology and possible spying that helped to spark Trump's tariff war with China in 2018.
Xu said he couldn't confirm news reports President Donald Trump might try to extend controls to block access to foreign-made products that contain U.S. technology. Xu said Huawei can find other sources but warned more American action might trigger Chinese retaliation against American companies.
"I think the Chinese government will not just stand by and watch Huawei be slaughtered," Xu said at a news conference. He said U.S. pressure on foreign suppliers "will be destructive to the global technology ecosystem."
"If the Chinese government followed through with countermeasures, the impact on the global industry would be astonishing," Xu said. "It's not only going to be one company, Huawei, that could be destroyed."
Huawei, China's first global tech brand, denies U.S. accusations the company is controlled by the ruling Communist Party or facilitates Chinese spying. The company says it is owned by the 104,572 members of its 194,000-member workforce who are Chinese citizens.
Chinese officials say the Trump administration is abusing national security claims to restrain a rival to U.S. tech companies.
Last year's sales rose 19.1% over 2018 to 858.8 billion yuan ($123 billion), in line with the previous year's 19.5% gain, the company reported. Profit increased 5.6% to 62.7 billion yuan ($9 billion), decelerating from 2018's 25% jump.
Huawei has had to spend heavily to replace American components in its products and find new suppliers after Trump approved the sanctions on May 16, Xu said.
The controls, if fully enforced, could cut off access to most U.S. components and technology. Washington has granted extensions for some products, but Huawei says it expects the barriers to be enforced.
The company, the world's No. 2 smartphone brand behind Samsung, said 2019 handset sales rose 15% to 240 million units.
Xu said it was impossible to forecast this year's handset sales until the spreading coronavirus pandemic is brought under control.
Huawei phones can keep using Google's popular Android operating system, but the American company is blocked from supplying music and other popular services for future models.
Huawei is creating its own services to replace Google and says its system had 400 million active users in 170 countries by the end of 2019. That requires Huawei to persuade developers to write applications for its new system, a challenge in an industry dominated by Android and Apple's iOS-based applications.
Huawei hopes Google applications can run on the Chinese company's system and that its apps can be distributed on the American company's online store, Xu said.
Huawei also is, along with Sweden's LM Ericsson and Nokia Corp. of Finland, one of the leading developers of fifth-generation, or 5G, technology. It is meant to expand networks to support self-driving cars, medical equipment and other futuristic applications, which makes the technology more intrusive and politically sensitive.
The Trump administration is lobbying European governments and other U.S. allies to avoid Huawei equipment as they prepare to upgrade to 5G. Australia, Taiwan and some other governments have imposed curbs on use of Huawei technology, but Germany and some other nations say the company will be allowed to bid on contracts.
The company has unveiled its own processor chips and smartphone operating system, which helps to reduce its vulnerability to American export controls. The company issued its first smartphone phone last year based on Huawei chips instead of U.S. technology.
Huawei also is embroiled in legal conflicts with Washington.
Its chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, who is Ren's daughter, is being held in Vancouver, Canada, for possible extradition to face U.S. charges related to accusations Huawei violated trade sanctions on Iran.
Separately, U.S. prosecutors have charged Huawei with theft of trade secrets, accusations the company denies.
The company, headquartered in the southern city of Shenzhen, also has filed lawsuits in American courts challenging government attempts to block phone carriers from purchasing its equipment.