WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United States is planning new restrictions on Chinese telecommunications companies to prevent scam calls and protect its phone networks from potential security threats.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said on October 29 that it would vote on November 19 on a proposal to block China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom and other internet-based service providers from directly accessing U.S. phone numbers.

The proposed restrictions are intended to stop illegal robocalls and reduce the risk of foreign interference in American telecommunications networks.

Companies providing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services use technology that converts voice calls into digital data and sends them through broadband internet connections. Direct access to U.S. phone numbers is cheaper for these companies and lets them offer more advanced services.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr said the proposed action would improve protection against illegal calls. "With this decision, the FCC will be strengthening our first line of defense against bad actors and illegal robocallers," he said.

China has strongly opposed the proposed restrictions. On October 30, its foreign ministry accused Washington of using national security concerns as an excuse to target Chinese businesses and interfere with their operations.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing would take steps to protect its interests.

"China will take necessary measures to safeguard its own legitimate rights and interests resolutely," Guo told reporters at a regular press conference.

The FCC also announced plans to prevent internet-based service providers from using equipment made by companies listed as national security threats. These include Chinese telecommunications equipment makers Huawei and ZTE.

The agency further said it planned to stop all Chinese laboratories from testing electronic products intended for the U.S. market from December 2028.

It is also considering withdrawing direct access to U.S. phone numbers from Chinese companies that it believes pose national security risks.

The United States has already taken several steps against Chinese telecommunications companies. The FCC previously banned China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom from providing international telecommunications services to the country.

Other possible restrictions include preventing these companies from connecting to U.S. telecommunications networks and operating their data centers in the United States.

Concerns about China's access to American telecommunications systems have increased in recent years. U.S. officials have warned that access to phone records, communications networks and other infrastructure could create opportunities for spying and cyberattacks.

In late 2024, Washington accused a Chinese state-backed hacking group known as Salt Typhoon of carrying out a major cyber espionage operation.

The group reportedly stole customers' call records and other U.S. communications data. It also accessed several American telecommunications companies and their infrastructure.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said this year that the threat posed by Salt Typhoon remained active.

In another move in July, the FCC added California-based Digitalsystem Technology to its list of companies considered threats to U.S. national security. The agency cited the company's links to Chinese telecommunications businesses and its ownership by a Chinese national.

China has repeatedly denied involvement in cyber espionage or wrongdoing against the United States.

The latest proposed restrictions reflect growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over telecommunications technology, cybersecurity, and access to critical infrastructure.