HK, Huawei could 'deep freeze' UK-China ties

London is facing a difficult balancing act as it seeks to reconcile its post-Brexit economic needs with its growing political concerns over China.

Published Wed, May 27, 2020 · 09:50 PM

UK economy

BORIS Johnson's government has begun a new review into the impact of allowing Huawei telecommunications equipment in UK 5G networks. While bilateral ties are chilly already, they now threaten to enter a "deep freeze" in the midst of a potential major British U-turn on this issue and the strains of the Covid-19 crisis.

The review follows the British prime minister's controversial decision earlier this year to approve a limited role for Huawei in building the UK's 5G mobile networks, albeit with a ban on supplying to the sensitive, core parts of this grid. It was announced at the time that Huawei would only be allowed to supply 35 per cent of the kit in the so-called periphery of this network, including radio masts.

However, dozens of Conservative MPs, not to mention the Trump administration in the US, have been urging Mr Johnson to review this as a priority. The latest salvo came a few weeks ago, when Washington placed additional US sanctions against Huawei which will restrict the firm from using US technology and software to design its semiconductors.