Microsoft-G42 deal positive because it cut Huawei ties, White House official says
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Microsoft's deal to invest $1.5 billion in artificial intelligence firm G42 is "generally a positive development" because it forced the United Arab Emirates-based company to sever ties to China's Huawei, a White House official said on Monday.

"In a place like UAE  where you had G42 working very closely with Huawei, for example, we have an interest in changing that picture," White House technology advisor Tarun Chhabra said.

"The effort to work with Microsoft as an alternative to Huawei is generally a positive development and one that we want to encourage," Chhabra said at a Washington, D.C. event held by the Council on Foreign Relations think tank.

Washington has for years tried to convince allies to cut telecoms equipment giant Huawei from their networks given fears that Chinese company could spy on customers and pass on the information to Beijing.