UK to cut Huawei’s 5G network involvement
Tribune
May 26, 2020
May 26, 2020
LONDON:
Prime
Minister Boris Johnson is planning to reduce Chinese telecoms equipment
maker Huawei Technologies Co Ltd’s involvement in Britain’s 5G network
in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, the Daily Telegraph newspaper
reported.
Johnson has asked officials to make plans to reduce China’s involvement in British infrastructure
to zero by 2023, the newspaper reported late on Friday. Johnson is
expected to use less reliance on China as a means to boost trade talks
with US President Donald Trump in the aftermath of Britain’s departure
from the European Union, according to the newspaper.
Downing Street declined to comment. Huawei did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Earlier on Friday, The Times reported that Johnson has instructed
civil servants to make plans to end Britain’s reliance on China for
vital medical supplies and other strategic imports. Beijing is being
criticised for its handling of the coronavirus outbreak, which began in
China. Beijing denies US allegations it has not been transparent about
the outbreak.
“He (Johnson) still wants a relationship with China but the Huawei
deal is going to be significantly scaled back. Officials have been
instructed to come up with a plan to reduce Huawei’s involvement as
quickly as possible,” a source was quoted by the Telegraph as saying.
The development would be a change of direction for Britain, which in
late April confirmed it would allow Huawei to have a role in building
its 5G phone network. Britain decided in January to allow Huawei into
what the government said were non-sensitive parts of the network,
capping its involvement at 35%.
The United States has raised security concerns about Huawei
equipment, and warned that allies that use it in their networks risked
being cut off from valuable intelligence sharing feeds.
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