U.K.’s Plans to Use Huawei’s 5G is Under Threat: No ‘Business As Usual’ With China After Virus, U.K. Says

In another significant blow to China in response to the Chinese government’s poor COVID-19 transparency, U.K’s plans to use Huawei’s 5G is now under threat from mounting opposition to the Chinese company in Boris Johnson’s own ruling Conservative Party, according to a report from Bloomberg, citing U.K government officials.

Despite criticism from the United States, UK government reached a decision early this year to let Chinese company Huawei Technologies Co. help build its fifth-generation mobile networks. At the time, British foreign secretary Dominic Raab says the move is justified. But there are now some cracks within the ruling Conservative Party. UK government now says it is not going to be ‘business as usual’ With China aafter Covid-19.

“We need to devise a proper, realistic exit strategy from relying on Huawei,” Conservative MP Damian Green told Bloomberg News.“Our telecom providers … need to know the government is determined to drive down Huawei’s involvement to zero percent over a realistic timescale.”

The Chinese government is pushing back. “We hope the U.K. side can uphold principles of freedom and openness, maintain policy independence and provide Chinese companies with an open, fair and nondiscriminatory business environment,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a briefing in Beijing on Friday. “This will help Chinese companies maintain confidence in the U.K. market.”