Oxford says no to additional Huawei funding

Oxford University has decided to forgo further funding from Chinese tech giant Huawei as scrutiny grows in Europe over the telecom company's relationship with the Beijing government.

Huawei has been under fire in recent months with the arrests of a top executive in Canada and an employee in Poland, along with a worldwide campaign by Washington to blacklist its equipment.

And in the latest blow for Huawei, Oxford University said it had decided it would "not pursue new funding opportunities" for both research contracts or philanthropic donations from Huawei and related group companies -- though existing projects would continue.

"We currently have two such ongoing projects, with a combined funding from Huawei of 692,000 Pounds (USD 898,000)," a university spokesman said Thursday, adding that Huawei had been informed of the decision to turn away future funding.

Oxford said it had made the decision in "light of public concerns raised in recent months surrounding UK partnerships with Huawei." But a Huawei spokesman said the company had not been informed and would "await the University's full explanation."