Mubasher: The US administration has begun to discourage key allies worldwide from using Chinese telecommunication giant Huawei’s equipment, according to a news report.

White House officials have briefed government counterparts and wireless and internet service provider in countries including Germany, Italy and Japan, amid national security concerns over the Chinese firm, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Thursday.

The US is also weighing financial aid for countries that have declined to use Huawei’s equipment, some officials told the WSJ.

US intelligence officials earlier this year warned US citizens against buying phones manufactured by Huawei and another Chinese tech major ZTE, amid lawmakers’ concerns over the firms’ ties to the Chinese government.

The use of Huawei’s technology in countries with prominent US military presence came as one of the main concerns, the WSJ said.

This came at the time when the world prepares for the new-era wireless technology of the fifth generation (5G), and as people are growing more dependent on the internet, concerns increasingly mounted among US officials over the potential for Chinese spying.