China calls for "objective" US investigation into ZTE

China has called for ZTE (0763.HKG, 000063.SZ) to receive fair treatment from US officials following reports that the Chinese telecom equipment supplier is under investigation in the US for allegedly planning to sell illegal technology to Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported. “We hope it [ZTE] can receive objective, fair and proper treatment from the US,” Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shen Danyang said at a news conference Tuesday. Shen went on to defend China’s relations with Iran, saying that “China, like many other countries, keeps normal, open and transparent relations with Iran.” UN sanctions allow Chinese companies to sell technology to Iran, but it is illegal under US law to resell American products to the country. Reports of a criminal investigation into ZTE – which remain unverified – first appeared last week on the website The Smoking Gun. Representatives from ZTE said the company had not been contacted by the FBI.