Huawei faces trial in New York court over alleged tech theft

Huawei, the world's No. 1 supplier of gear for wireless telecom networks, faces a trial in New York, with US prosecutors calling it a "criminal enterprise."

Huawei denies allegations including sanctions violations, money laundering, racketeering and obstruction.

Beijing authorities strongly deplore the US government's suppression against Chinese companies as they rally support for the tech giant.

Eight years after US prosecutors secretly charged Huawei Technologies with so-called bank fraud over its business with Iran, opening statements in the case finally kicked off in a Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday.

Trial attorney from the Department of Justice Taylor Stout told jurors that Huawei has "victimised" American companies and "abused the American financial system."

Reuters reports how the prosecutor detailed the firm's alleged crimes for conspiring to steal technology and trade secrets from five US companies, including operating system source code for internet routers from Cisco Systems and a robotic arm to test phones from T-Mobile, in an effort to gain unfair competitive edges in the telecommunications industry.

Stout claimed there was video of an employee "stealing" the robotic arm.

Defence attorney Brian Heberlig, however, painted a different picture.

He told the court: "It's about competition, not conspiracy. Innovation, not theft. Ordinary business dealings, not criminal conduct."

Heberlig noted those allegations were based on "old grudges," anecdotes and some bad behaviours of a few of its roughly 200,000 employees in 170 countries, who have been promptly sacked by the company.

He said there were "real people whose careers, integrity are on the line in this case," while attributing Huawei's success to its engineering, investment and innovation.

The foreign ministry today reiterates Beijing firmly opposes the US suppressing and containing Chinese companies and resolutely supports its companies in safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests.

Officials have accused the US government of "economic bullying" and improperly using national security as a pretext for oppressing Chinese businesses.

American media outlets indicate the proceedings are expected to span three months which align temporally with President Xi Jinping's US visit and his summit with Donald Trump.

Citing legal experts, reports say in the event of a conviction, Huawei could face monetary penalties totalling hundreds of millions, or potentially billions of US dollars.