A top Chinese minister says that the U.S. government is engaging in a "cold war mentality" by labeling Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. and ZTE Corp. (Shenzhen: 000063; Hong Kong: 0763) as security risks for American companies that would do business with them.

Commerce Minister Chen Deming made the comments at the nation's 18th Communist Party Congress on Saturday as the ruling body prepared to select a new leader, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The minister was responding to a U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence report released in October suggested American firms should avoid doing business with Huawei and ZTE.

"I think this has gone too far," the minister said.

Chen, however, brushed off harsh comments made by both President Obama and Mitt Romney on the campaign trail ahead of November's election. The president had talked tough on trade with China, while Romney had said he would label China a "currency manipulator" on his first day in power.

"We don't take campaign statements seriously," Chen said.

Why this matters
Trade disputes between the U.S. and Chinese companies are getting more heated. A trade war -- even a cold one -- between the countries would affect mobile and telecom companies on both sides.

For more

• Matt Bross Leaves Huawei
• Huawei Hits Back
• Cisco Feels Security Heat in China
• Clearwire Will Keep Using Huawei
• US vs Huawei/ZTE: The Verdict

— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Light Reading Mobile