The comments by Liang Hua pushed back at US allegations that the telecommunications equipment maker cannot be trusted. Liang also said that his firm was no longer reliant on sanctions-affected US components.

Huawei was founded by Ren Zhengfei, a former People’s Liberation Army engineer who is still its chief executive officer.

The company was dragged into the spotlight a year ago when Ren’s daughter and senior Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada at the request of the United States.

Here are five things to know about the company: