The Clean Network


The Clean Network is a U.S. government-led, bi-partisan effort announced by then U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in August 2020 to address what it describes as "the long-term threat to data privacy, security, human rights and principled collaboration posed to the free world from authoritarian malign actors." Its promoters state that it has resulted in an "alliance of democracies and companies," "based on democratic values." According to the Trump administration, the Clean Network is intended to implement internationally accepted digital trust standards across a coalition of trusted partners.
In December 2020, the United States announced that more than 60 nations, representing more than two thirds of the world's gross domestic product, and 200 telecom companies, have publicly committed to the principles of The Clean Network. This alliance of democracies includes 27 of the 30 NATO members; 26 of the 27 EU members, 31 of the 37 OECD nations, 11 of the 12 Three Seas nations as well as Japan, Israel, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Canada, New Zealand, Vietnam and India.
The term "Clean Network" was coined by U.S. Undersecretary of State Keith Krach, who initially led the initiative, which includes officials in the Treasury Department, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the National Security Council, and the Commerce Department. According to Bloomberg, Krach is credited with coordinating a variety of national and regional approaches to shape a more unified international project, relying on trust more than compulsion—a notable change in tone after years in which the Trump administration pursued a go-it-alone, "America First" strategy. On April 22, 2021, David Ignatius of the Washington Post stated that Krach's Clean Network provides continuity with the Biden administration's desire to get democracies together on the same playing field on technology.
Krach described the Huawei effort as a “beachhead” in a wider battle to unite against Chinese economic pressure in everything from investment to strategic materials that bears the hallmarks of 'good old fashioned' diplomacy, in contrast to a somewhat more confrontational style at the beginning of the administration. The Wall Street Journal wrote that the Clean Network will be perhaps the "most enduring foreign-policy legacy" of the last four years. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian referred to the Clean Network as a "US surveillance network" and "consolidation of US digital hegemony".
Researchers have noted that the announcement of the Clean Network was met with indifference in many major European countries, among concerns that the initiative would fragment the internet, with many also skeptical of US claims that Huawei poses an uncontrollable security threat. Several European countries in the Clean Network have since allowed Huawei to build their non-core 5G networks. A December 2021 op-ed by historian Arthur L. Herman and former U.S. national security advisor Robert C. O'Brien noted that only eight countries joined the US-led ban on Huawei's 5G equipment, compared to the more than 90 countries that signed up with Huawei, including several NATO members and regional allies. Herman and O'Brien argued that the US have not offered a viable alternative to Huawei's network, and failed to utilize wide spectrum options.

Overview

On August 5, 2020, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo launched the Clean Network, which is the State Department’s comprehensive approach to address what it sees as the long-term threats to data privacy, security, and trusted collaboration posed by malign state actors. It is rooted in internationally accepted "Digital Trust Standards" and represents the execution of a multi-year, enduring strategy built on a coalition of trusted partners. According to Pompeo, the Clean Network emphasizes the importance of securing the entire 5G information technology ecosystem, including all extensions and accessories. The United States government sees these efforts as part of its commitment to an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure global Internet based on shared democratic values and respect for human rights.
The State Department looked for a range of commitments from countries and foreign telecom providers to build their 5G networks without Huawei or ZTE equipment, and offered financing from the Exim Bank or USAID for Ericsson and Nokia equipment. The State Department pressed countries and firms to sign MoUs and make official statements supporting the initiative. The EU formed a task force on 5G network security in March 2019, which released standards in January 2020, known as the EU Toolbox on 5G Cybersecurity, that did not explicitly ban Hauwei equipment, but instead suggested each country should evaluate high-risk suppliers. Countries that have committed to build networks implementing the EU Toolbox standards are counted as countries participating in the Clean Network.
United States Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Keith Krach was the initial lead advocate of the U.S. government's push to prevent the use of potentially high-risk Chinese technology in sensitive systems around the world.
According to Bloomberg, the Clean Network effort to create a united economic front has similarities with George Kennan's “long telegram” of 1946 to the Soviet Union. David Fidler, adjunct senior fellow for cybersecurity and global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, made this claim in a blog post in 2020. Kennan formulated the Cold War strategy of containment, which the Chinese claim is now being used against them.
Under Secretary Krach traveled to Asia, Europe, South America, and the Middle East to secure commitments from more governments to join the U.S. effort. "The success of the Clean Network has taken all the momentum away from Huawei," Krach said. "When we looked at this six months ago it looked like Huawei was unstoppable."
The Clean Network and the EU 5G Clean Toolbox, the U.S. government claims, have paved the way toward protecting citizens’ privacy, companies’ intellectual property, and countries’ national security from "aggressive intrusions" by malign actors, such as the Chinese Communist Party and its surveillance and data collection tools, such as Huawei. "Countries and companies are more and more asking the question, 'Who do we trust?'" Krach said. "The answer’s coming back, it’s certainly not Huawei because they’re the backbone of the Chinese Communist Party’s surveillance state."
The "Clean Network" brand replaced the original name of "Economic Prosperity Network" in which trusted democracies and the private sector form an economic alliance. It was conceived to have three components from initiatives that were already underway: a Clean Network for communications that is free from untrusted vendors; a Blue Dot Network for global infrastructure investment to counter China's "Belt and Road" initiative; and an Energy Resource Governance Initiative to secure supplies of rare earth metals and other strategic minerals.

History

  • February 14, 2020 at the 2020 Munich Security Conference, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned European countries they will "choose autocracy over democracy" if they let Huawei take part in rolling out 5G technology, in a sign of the bipartisan US political pressure over the Chinese company.
  • February 18, 2020, at a press conference in London, Huawei's president of carrier business Ryan Ding announced, "We have 91 commercial 5G contracts worldwide, including 47 from Europe."
  • March 3, 2020 Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer led a bipartisan group of senators in urging Parliament to reconsider the Johnson government's decision to allow Huawei to supply some of the United Kingdom's 5G telecommunications structure.
  • May 13, 2020, the Center for Strategic and International Studies publishes Clean Network's digital trust standard.
  • May 18, 2020, the "5G Trifecta" announced which represents the onshoring of TSMC's semiconductors, locking down on Huawei's advanced semiconductors and the global roll out of the Clean Path stratagem.
  • June 3, 2020, Canadian major telcos effectively lock Huawei out of 5G build. The decision of Bell and TELUS to shift to Ericsson and Nokia has left Huawei with no major carrier customers in Canada.
  • June 10, 2020, Krach's bipartisan semiconductor bill, Chips for America Act, is introduced by Senators Warner and Cornyn.
  • June 24, 2020, Telefónica CEO and Chairman José María declares, "Telefónica is proud to be a 5G Clean Network company. Telefónica Spain and O2 are fully clean networks, and Telefónica Deutschland and Vivo will be soon without equipment from any untrusted vendors."
  • June 25, 2020, Under Secretary of State Krach welcomes the Czech Republic, Norway, Poland, Estonia, Romania, Denmark, Greece, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, Israel, and Latvia as members of Clean Network.
  • June 29, 2020, Nokia and Ericsson chosen as Singapore's 5G network providers.
  • July 4, 2020, Under Secretary Krach ties China's surveillance state with genocide and slave labor in Xinjiang on Cavuto Live.
  • July 14, 2020, the United Kingdom announces plans to ban Huawei from future 5G networks. Specifically, UK mobile providers are being banned from buying new Huawei 5G equipment after December 31.
  • July 22, 2020, French authorities limited Huawei by telling telecoms operators planning to buy Huawei equipment that they would not be able to renew licenses for the gear once they expire in 2028.
  • August 5, 2020 - Announcement of the expansion of the Clean Network to include Clean Carrier, Clean Store, Clean Apps, Clean Cloud, and Clean Cable.
  • August 6, 2020 - President Trump signed two executive orders exercising his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to address the alleged threats posed by apps such as TikTok and WeChat.
  • August 10, 2020 - The Clean Network grew to 30 Clean Countries and Territories along with some of largest telecommunications companies, including Orange, Jio, Singtel, Telstra, SK, KT and all telcos in Canada, Norway, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
  • August 11, 2020, U.S. State Department called on its allies and partners in government and industry around the world to join the growing tide to secure data from the Chinese Communist Party 's surveillance state and China's Great Firewall and said “Momentum for The Clean Network is growing.”
  • August 24, 2020, India phases out equipment from Chinese companies from its telecom's networks over an escalating border dispute.
  • September 18, 2020, Krach became the highest-ranking State Department official since 1979 to visit Taiwan. He was there to represent the United States at the funeral of former president Lee. Krach welcomed Taiwan to the Clean Network with Taiwan's President Tsai. "Taiwan is a great partner, a great friend," Krach said. "They're a role model for capitalism and democracy in that part of the world."
  • September 22, 2020, U.S. Under Secretary of State Keith Krach begins European Clean Network tour including EU and NATO headquarters, to discuss the move toward clean 5G infrastructure and the goal of building a Transatlantic Clean Network.
  • September 28, 2020, Krach and Austrian Federal Minister Elisabeth Köstinger meet to discuss the U.S.-Austria partnership and multiple areas of economic collaboration through the Clean Network and the EU 5G Clean Toolbox.
  • September 30, 2020 – U.S. Under Secretary of State Keith Krach and EU Commissioner Thierry Breton issued a joint statement on the synergies between the Clean Network and the EU 5G Clean Toolbox. Toolbox meets criteria for being part of the Clean Network.
  • September 30, 2020 – NATO seeks a 5G Clean NATO Network due to the strategic importance of having a non-fractured alliance.
  • October 1, 2020, Portugal commits to implementing the EU 5G Clean Toolbox, joins Clean Network.
  • October 2, 2020, Spain commits to implementing the EU 5G Clean Toolbox, joins Clean Network.
  • October 3, 2020, Albania: Prime Minister Edi Rama stated, "Albania sees its role in the region not just as a constructive role in building peace and strengthening dialogue, but as a proactive role in the 5G Clean Path." In addition to Albania's commitment to 5G Clean Path, Under Secretary Krach and Albania's Finance Minister Anila Denaj signed a Memorandum of Economic Cooperation, laying the foundation on 5G security.
  • October 4, 2020, Germany prepares legislation that included two-phase reviews in building its 5G network.
  • October 8, 2020, Luxembourg joins Clean Network.
  • October 9, 2020, Belgium announce replacement of Huawei, joins the Clean Network. The Belgian capital, Brussels, is home to the European Union's executive body and had been 100% reliant on Chinese vendors for its radio networks. Belgium has now awarded their 5G contracts to Nokia instead of Huawei to complete their transition to a Clean Country.
  • October 14, 2020 – Clean Network grew to over 40 Clean Countries, and 50 Clean Telcos.
  • October 17, 2020 – Clean Network added companies including Oracle, HP, Reliance Jio, NEC, Fujitsu, Cisco, NTT, SoftBank and VMware.
  • October 20, 2020, Cyprus joins Clean Network. U.S. Undersecretary of State Krach and Cypriot Minister for Digital Policy Kyriacos Kokkinos sign a memorandum of understanding regarding "Clean" technologies in Cyprus.
  • October 21, 2020 – Three Seas Initiative announced support for the Clean Network at annual conference in Estonia.
  • October 23, 2020 – US Under Secretary of State Krach signed three Clean Network memorandums of understanding with Prime Ministers in Bulgaria, Kosovo and North Macedonia.
  • October 23, 2020 – Slovakia signs Joint Declaration on 5G Security, joins Clean Network.
  • October 31, 2020 – Clean Network grew to 49 country members, representing two-thirds of global economic output.
  • November 7, 2020 – Krach begins Latin American Clean Network tour to Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, and the Dominican Republic to meet with government officials and business leaders.
  • November 10, 2020 – Brazil joins Clean Network as the 50th member.
  • November 22, 2020 – Ecuador and the Dominican Republic joined The Clean Network.
  • November 25, 2020 – Huawei sells off Honor phone business to a state-led consortium.
  • December 23, 2020 – Ukraine announces, intent to join Clean Network because "joining the Clean Network will pave the way for more private sector investment in Ukraine, in particular the innovation sector."
  • January 12, 2021 – Nauru announces joining The Clean Network.
  • January 14, 2021 – Palau joins The Clean Network.
  • January 15, 2021 – The European nation of Georgia signs MOU to join The Clean Network.
  • May 22, 2021 – In Ethiopia, a Vodafone-led group with financial backing of the International Development Finance Corp wins contract to build a nationwide 5G-capable wireless network against Huawei.
  • April 12, 2021 – Harvard Business School published "The Clean Network and the Future of Global Technology Competition."