Uwe Schulz
5G Internet Security
German Bundestag, December 20, 2019,
Plenarprotokoll 19/138, pp. 17302-17303
[Uwe Schulz is an Alternative für Deutschland
Bundestag member from the central German state of Hessen. He is a businessman.]
Frau
President. Ladies and gentlemen.
Already
ten months ago, the AfD demanded of the Federal Government finally to concern
itself with measures for the security of our communications network. In
contrast to most in this house, it was quite clear to us then that there was a need
to act in regards 5G security.
The
bill’s author, on one page, must examine and adapt the legal grounds.
Primarily,
it must be politically guaranteed that the 5G network be constructed only with
trustworthy firms. For the AfD, it is clear: Firms which are substantially
under the influence of undemocratic states, and which can be pressed into
espionage, are not partners for us.
Michael Fulda (CDU/CSU): Then what
is it with you and Russia and China?
All
of you rejected our motion of February 13, and there was not alternative
motion, nothing.
Christoph Bernstiel (CDU/CSU): Since
2018!
Yet
you now come with similar demands that give up the ghost. To you, dear colleagues
of the FDP and Greens, is Germany’s security obviously only important when it
fits your partisan political concept.
Ursula Groden-Kranich (CDU/CSU): The
righteous speak!
Falko Mohrs (SPD): Already a bit
confused.
Ladies
and gentlemen, it is a tragedy that even though 5G is long since at the
starting gate, the government coalition indicates no clear position. In your
oh-so-aggressive 2017 5G strategy, there is nothing on the theme of “Internet
Equipment Security”, and in regards frequency auctions, for you, the Federal
Government, the proceeds are more important than the security aspects.
Falko Mohrs (SPD): That is still
rubbish! The criteria were already announced!
A bit of acquaintance with the facts helps!
Yet
in that regard, even the Federal Government must have understood what it meant:
The 5G network in the future will be the central, critical infrastructure for
essential social and economic functions. For you, completely responsible
officials have written into the risk assessment that the key components of the
5G networks must be subject to control and that dubious network suppliers are
to be excluded. Thus far is theory: Since the Chancellor’s arrogance appears
again to have won the upper hand. Frau Merkel is quite well aware that the
German intelligence service urgently warned of that in referring back to
Chinese network supplier Huawei for the German 5G network. While Frau Merkel
believes in her own infallibility, the Economics Minister lapses into angst,
fearing Chinese sanctions should Huawei not get underway. The Federal Republic
of Germany, ladies and gentlemen, allows itself to be extorted by a country to
which we yearly pay more than half a billion euros in development assistance.
What
do you notice?
Yet
you also know – the Federal Government which is not on hand – that China, in
strengthening its own economy, is driving an extremely hard bargain: The
banning by Chinese officials of foreign computer technology is only one example.
Does that look like trust, ladies and gentlemen? Does that look like
partnership? I think not.
It
is a question here of whether we as the Federal Republic of Germany will hand
over our digital sovereignty to the Chinese Communist Party or whether we want
to make a self-determined foreign and economic policy which defends our
sovereignty or even restores it. We demand of the Federal Government an end to
your embarrassing game of hide-and-seek and finally take a definite position.
Michael Grosse-Brömer (CDU/CSU): When
will you again be going to Putin?
Yet
perhaps, ladies and gentlemen of the government parties, your vision will
become somewhat clearer should you finally take leave of your dependence on
Huawei as a sponsor of your party day –
Ursula Groden-Kranich (CDU/CSU): Not
us!
–
since that is long since overdue.
Many
thanks.
[Translated by Todd Martin]
