BEIJING BLAST
China hits out at UK’s ‘wrong’ decision to ban Huawei from 5G network as bitter Beijing makes trade threat
CHINA has hit out at the UK’s “wrong” decision to ban Huawei from its 5G network from next year as tensions simmer with Beijing.
Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese ambassador to the UK, labelled the decision “disappointing” and questioned whether Britain could be an “open and fair business environment” in a thinly veiled trade threat.
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It comes as Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden announced earlier that telecoms firms will be banned from purchasing new 5G equipment from Huawei and will have to remove all the Chinese company's kit by 2027.
The move represents a major u-turn from Downing Street, who had previously frustrated US intelligence officials by embracing the controversial firm as part of the national rollout of 5G services.
Mr Dowden told the Commons that the decision came after US sanctions against the network - who have raised suspicions about a possible threat to national security.
Disappointing and wrong decision by the UK on Huawei
Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese ambassador to the UK
Responding to the news, Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese ambassador to the UK, tweeted: "Disappointing and wrong decision by the UK on Huawei.
"It has become questionable whether the UK can provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment for companies from other countries."
Huawei echoed the ambassador's sentiment, accusing the UK government of unfairly politicising its future.
It comes amidst growing tensions between London and Beijing, after relations had previously improved under David Cameron's leadership.
But Mr Dowden was keen to stress on Tuesday that the UK would not turn its back on China despite the move, and sought a "modern and mature relationship based on mutual respect".
However, he added that "the security and resilience of our telecoms networks is of paramount importance", and that Britain would "never compromise that security in pursuit of economic prosperity."
Mr Dowden also rejected notions that the government would be "cowed" by threats from China amidst fears of a retaliation from Beijing.
The new move means:
- The ban will come in for new parts of the 5G network from Jan 1 2021
- Huawei will still be allowed to keep their 2G, 3G and 4G equipment in the country as it's not deemed a security risk
- Huawei's 5G network can't be ditched straight away as there's only one other supplier who can be used right now - Nokia
- Fibre internet providers will have two years to phase out Huawei products in their current internet technology
- Higher prices for consumers likely as internet providers will have to strip the firm's parts out
- Lord Browne of Madingley stepped down early as the UK chairman of Huawei Technologies ahead of the ban
US sanctions mean Huawei cannot use American components, which will mean the firm would have to use untrusted technology.
Donald Trump's right hand man had previously warned that allowing the Chinese tech giant to build parts of Britain's 5G network would be like "putting a kleptomaniac" into your house.
US Ambassador Woody Johnson used the analogy to raise the stakes in the ongoing transatlantic row over the role of Huawei.
Last year America even threatened to stop sharing top-secret intelligence with Britain if it allows Huawei to build its 5G mobile phone network.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo added to choruses of support from American politicians, tweeting on Tuesday: "Today's decision by the UK to ban Huawei from its 5G networks advances trans-Atlantic security in the 5G era while protecting citizens' privacy, national security, and free-world values."
But the new move will not be cheap for firms, and will delay 5G rollout by up to three years, costing up to £2 billion.
Despite the move, sources stressed it's still safe to use and buy Huawei phones and laptops.
Huawei has always denied that it poses any security risk and insists that it is a private company free from Chinese state control.
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Ed Brewster, a spokesperson for Huawei UK, said: "This disappointing decision is bad news for anyone in the UK with a mobile phone.
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“It threatens to move Britain into the digital slow lane, push up bills and deepen the digital divide. Instead of ‘levelling up’ the government is levelling down and we urge them to reconsider. We remain confident that the new US restrictions would not have affected the resilience or security of the products we supply to the UK.
“Regrettably our future in the UK has become politicized, this is about US trade policy and not security.”
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