"We hope that the Portuguese side makes rational political choices autonomously and adheres to the creation of an open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment", said the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a note sent to Lusa agency, in Beijing.

Chinese diplomacy considered that “building walls and barriers” and “breaking ties” only “harms the most vulnerable”.

“Cooperation with mutual benefits is the only right path”, he stressed.

Last month, the Security Assessment Commission, within the scope of the Higher Council for Cyberspace Security in Portugal, released a decision regarding the “high risk” to the security of 5G networks and services from the use of equipment from suppliers that, among other things, other criteria, whether from outside the European Union, NATO or OECD and whose “legal system of the country in which they are domiciled allows the Government to exercise control, interference or pressure on their activities operating in third countries”.

The deliberation does not mention the names of companies or countries, but comes after years of pressure exerted by Washington on allied countries to exclude the Chinese technological group Huawei from telecommunications infrastructures.

The United States points to China's National Intelligence Law, which stipulates that "all organizations and citizens must support, assist and cooperate with the State in matters of National Intelligence".

The company categorically denied those accusations and recalled that Chinese law does not require Huawei to install hidden mechanisms in networks or equipment that allow unauthorized access to data and information.

Other countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia or Sweden, have already banned Huawei from participating in the development of their 5G networks.

In the statement sent to Lusa, the Chinese government says it opposes the “politicization” of technological issues, the “abuse of state power” and the “violation of international trade rules” and “principles of market economy”.

"China is against the formulation of discriminatory and exclusive policies and regulations and is opposed to the suppression and imposition of restrictions on foreign companies", reads the same note.

“We hope that the Portuguese will protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and take practical measures to attract foreign investment and expand cooperation opportunities,” he added.