The Turnbull government is about to encounter a proven tactic to blunt new laws that are meant to thwart foreign interference in Australian politics.

Deny, deny, deny. That is the logical response from companies and individuals who come under suspicion for their links to foreign governments and political parties.

Chinese communications giant Huawei is a textbook case of how the new laws might work – or might not. The company denies it is an arm of the Chinese government and says it is owned by more than 80,000 employees.

Attorney-General Christian Porter and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull wouldn't say whether Huawei should sign up to the proposed public register of "foreign government related entities". Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Huawei’s founder, Ren Zhengfei, started the company in 1987 after a career as an engineer in the People’s Liberation Army. He owns about 1.4 per cent of the stock. Stories abound of senior officials with loyalties to the Communist Party, but there is no ownership link that would fit neatly into a western law.