The United States is moving to restrict Chinese telecommunications companies from directly accessing American phone numbers, citing national security concerns and efforts to combat illegal robocalls.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on October 29 that it will vote on November 19 on a proposal targeting China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom and other internet-based telephone service providers.
China's foreign ministry strongly opposed the proposed restrictions on Friday, accusing Washington of expanding the definition of national security and misusing government authority to suppress Chinese businesses.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing would take necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests.
The proposed restrictions would affect Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers, which transmit telephone calls as digital data over broadband connections.
Direct access to American phone numbers allows these companies to operate at lower costs and offer advanced telecommunications features.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr said the proposal would strengthen protections against malicious actors and illegal robocall operations.
The FCC is also considering restrictions on internet-based telephone providers using equipment manufactured by companies identified as national security risks, including Huawei and ZTE.
Additional measures include banning Chinese laboratories from testing American electronics beginning in December 2028 and potentially revoking existing direct number authorizations.
The commission previously prohibited China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom from providing international telecommunications services to the United States.
Further restrictions under consideration could prevent these companies from connecting to American networks or operating data centers within the country.
The proposed measures follow mounting concerns about Chinese access to American telecommunications infrastructure and sensitive communications data.
In late 2024, Washington accused the Chinese state-sponsored hacking group Salt Typhoon of stealing consumer call records and infiltrating telecommunications companies.
The FBI warned this year that the threat remained ongoing.
In July, the FCC designated California-based Digitalsystem Technology a national security risk, citing its connections to Chinese telecommunications firms and ownership by a Chinese national.
China has consistently denied wrongdoing.