German Chancellor Angela Merkel intervened to make sure the controversial Chinese tech company Huawei was not banned from working on its 5G mobile networks, with the government saying it wants to create "a level playing field" for vendors.

She could face some pushback from members of her government, and especially from the US which considered Huawei too close to the Chinese government and a security risk.  Washington has banned Huawei from selling 5G equipment to its telecoms companies, saying it contained back doors that would enable Chinese surveillance.  Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Taiwan have also introduced similar restrictions on the use of Huawei's equipment and technology.

Washington has warned that it could endanger the trans-Atlantic relationship if Huawei gear is used in Germany network.  Observers believed that would be enough to get a clause in the new security catalog which would effectively ban Huawei from the country's 5G infrastructure.

But, the German business newspaper Handelsblatt reported earlier this week that the clause was removed, apparently thanks to intervention from Ms. Merkel's office.  

"Politicising cyber-security will only hinder technology development and social progress while doing nothing to address the security challenges all countries face," Huawei said in a statement.  "Over the past 30 years, we have served more than three billion people around the world, and we have maintained a strong track record in security throughout."