Meanwhile, the arrest of two Michaels (businessman Michael Spavor and former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig on espionage charges) has generated anger in Canada.

He outlined a number of concerns including "the company's opacity", Huawei's "relationship with the Chinese government", and "the general espionage risk associated with Chinese technology firms".

Some are satisfied that the UK National Cyber Security Council has found no evidence to support the claim that Huawei is involved in acts of espionage.

Margot James, minister for digital and the creative industries, supports Huawei's participation in the UK's 5G rollout, and said the government is right to act on recommendations supplied by the UK National Cyber Security Centre, which has found no evidence to support the US claim that Huawei is involved in digital espionage.

"The US claims Huawei has assisted the Chinese government in espionage, though Washington has not provided any evidence and Huawei has repeatedly rubbished the allegations.

The US has accused Huawei of assisting the Chinese government in espionage, though Washington has not provided any evidence, and the company has repeatedly denied the allegation.

Allan Cabanlong, assistant secretary for Cybersecurity and Enabling Technologies of the Philippine Department of Information and Communications Technology, told local media on Wednesday that there is no scientific basis to support some Western countries' charge that Huawei is engaged in espionage activity.

"Right now, there is no scientific evidence on Huawei conducting espionage in the Philippines," Cabanlong said.

Huawei Chairman Guo Ping denied allegations made by the United States government that the company has assisted the Chinese government in espionage.

Some Canadian allies have imposed restrictions, citing the risk of espionage.

Citing "espionage concerns", the US State Department has shortened the validity period of visas for Chinese graduate students in fields such as aviation, robotics and advanced manufacturing from five years to one.

US Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and US Representative Francis Rooney of Florida have recently reintroduced the Stop Higher Education Espionage and Theft Act, which is intended to prevent "Chinese espionage" efforts at US universities.

This has been compounded by the fact that Huawei's critics have failed to reveal any convincing evidence to support their accusation that the firm is a part of Chinese espionage activities.

As a result, any accusation about Huawei's role in Chinese espionage has been greeted with a greater degree of skepticism.

National security agencies have uncovered hundreds of cases of espionage and theft of secrets by Taiwan in recent years and have arrested a group of spies and operatives from the island, according to an article published on an official WeChat account of the Ministry of State Security on Wednesday.

Since the Democratic Progressive Party came to power, Taiwan's intelligence agencies have actively served as the vanguard for "Taiwan independence" forces, intensifying espionage on the mainland, the article said.

In response, national security authorities took decisive action, organizing and implementing multiple special operations in recent years that resulted in the dismantling of multiple espionage networks set up by Taiwan's intelligence agencies targeting the mainland, it said.

Geographic information data is classified as high-value intelligence and is a prime target for overseas espionage agencies, the ministry said.

That created serious risks of leaks and espionage, potentially resulting in irreparable losses.

China's Counter-Espionage Law says that overseas institutions, organizations and individuals who obtain data related to national security and interests through theft or bribery — in collusion with domestic entities or otherwise — will be considered to have engaged in acts of espionage.

China's national security agency recently uncovered a case of suspected espionage involving the United States' CIA, which persuaded a cadre who was studying abroad to join one of the nation's ministries and act as a spy.

He persuaded Hao to engage in acts of espionage against the Chinese government, asking him to work in core and sensitive departments after returning to China.

Later, national security agencies discovered Hao's espionage activities and began an investigation, which is ongoing.

China's national security agency recently uncovered a case of espionage involving the United States' CIA, which persuaded a cadre who was studying abroad to join one of the nation's ministries and act as a spy.

The case has been transferred to the procuratorate for further review and prosecution, said the ministry, which gave some details about the acts of espionage.

Zeng agreed to Seth's proposal and signed an espionage agreement, and underwent assessments and training provided by the US.

Through meticulous investigation, the national security department obtained substantial evidence of Zeng's espionage activities and took lawful coercive measures to promptly eliminate the threat caused by Zeng.

The Ministry of State Security announced on Friday that a recent espionage case involving the United States Central Intelligence Agency has been successfully cracked.

Zeng agreed to Seth's proposal and signed an espionage agreement, and underwent assessments and training provided by the US side.

China's Anti-Espionage Law has made clear provisions on the principles of counterespionage work, the definition of espionage acts, the conditions and procedures for investigation and handling of such violations, and legal supervision, said an official with the ministry.

The statement also responded to some foreign media concerns about the definition of "stealing, spying, buying and illegally providing other documents, data, materials and articles related to national security and interests for foreign organizations, organizations and individuals other than foreign espionage organizations and their agents.

Most countries regard the acquisition, collection, reproduction, disclosure and provision of various documents, materials, information, goods, trade secrets and other acts that are harmful to national security or interests as espionage, he said.

The ministry's statement stressed that preventing and combating espionage activities and safeguarding national security through legislation is a common international practice.

The purpose of the amendment to the law is to prevent, stop and punish all kinds of espionage activities carried out by espionage and intelligence agencies.

The law also stipulates that anti-espionage work should be carried out in accordance with the law and protect the legitimate rights and interests of individuals and organizations, which fully reflects the principle of the rule of law and the unity of punishing espionage and respecting and protecting human rights, said the official.

The statement also responded to some foreign media concerns about the definition of "stealing, spying, buying and illegally providing other documents, data, materials and articles related to national security and interests for foreign organizations, organizations, and individuals other than foreign espionage organizations and their agents.

The purpose of the amendment to the law is to prevent, stop, and punish all kinds of espionage activities carried out by espionage and intelligence agencies.

As the country's first legislative document unveiled in 2014 to implement the overall national security concept, the law has played a large role in countering espionage activities and safeguarding national security, "but considering the needs of anti-espionage in the new era and to carry out the concept in the new situation, it's amendment is essential", said Wang Aili, an official from NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission.

"The current situation of struggling against espionage is grave, as traditional and non-traditional security threats are intertwined, and various types of spies and intelligence activities are more complicated," said Wang, who is head of the commission's criminal department.

"Espionage also involves more extensive fields, more diversified targets and more covert methods.

It also stipulates that espionage organizations and their agencies that instigate or fund others to attack, invade, interfere in, control or destroy critical infrastructure are considered spies.

Regarding the law as a major part of safeguarding national security, he said, "Amending it is to strengthen the fight against espionage in this new situation, and aims to provide a strong legislative guarantee in the battle of infiltration, subversion and secret stealing.

""The current situation against espionage is extremely grave, as traditional and non-traditional security threats are intertwined, and various types of spies and intelligence activities are more complicated," he explained.

When the draft was given second deliberation at the end of last year, it had clarified that those found to be providing cybersecurity loopholes or other involving important information infrastructure to espionage organizations should be identified as spies.

Those found to be providing cybersecurity loopholes or other information involving critical information infrastructure to espionage organizations will be identified as spies, according to a draft amendment.

"This has been added to the draft to clarify the definition of espionage because lawmakers and individuals working for central and local authorities pointed out that theft or attacks over a network have become a new norm of espionage," said Wang Ning, an official from the Constitution and Law Committee at the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Given that espionage is also harmful to society, the draft amendment states that those found providing spies with help, be this in the form of information, funds, supplies, labor, technology or locations, will first be warned or given administrative detention of up to 15 days by State security departments.

The draft encourages technological innovation in the fight against espionage, calling for national security departments to pay greater attention to training to improve counterespionage abilities.