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Mike Pompeo invokes Thatcher to push for harder line on China Mike Pompeo urges Tories to ask: 'What would Thatcher do?'
(about 5 hours later)
The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, has invoked Margaret Thatcher as he appealed to the Conservative right to take a firmer line with China, again urging the UK to resist efforts by Huawei to gain access to Britain’s new 5G network.The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, has invoked Margaret Thatcher as he appealed to the Conservative right to take a firmer line with China, again urging the UK to resist efforts by Huawei to gain access to Britain’s new 5G network.
Insisting he felt duty-bound to raise sensitive issues with close partners, Pompeo said the telecoms company was as a matter of Chinese law required to bow to Beijing’s demands for access to its networks, adding he could see no circumstances in which the west should allow itself to become so vulnerable.Insisting he felt duty-bound to raise sensitive issues with close partners, Pompeo said the telecoms company was as a matter of Chinese law required to bow to Beijing’s demands for access to its networks, adding he could see no circumstances in which the west should allow itself to become so vulnerable.
In a speech in London he claimed China was intent on dividing the west through the use of technology. Referring to the late former prime minister, he said: “Ask yourself: would the Iron Lady be silent when China violates the sovereignty of nations through corruption or coercion?”In a speech in London he claimed China was intent on dividing the west through the use of technology. Referring to the late former prime minister, he said: “Ask yourself: would the Iron Lady be silent when China violates the sovereignty of nations through corruption or coercion?”
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo warns UK over Huawei and 5G - live newsUS secretary of state Mike Pompeo warns UK over Huawei and 5G - live news
He added: “Insufficient security will impede the United States’ ability to share certain information within trusted networks. This is just what China wants: to divide western alliances through bits and bytes, not bullets and bombs.”He added: “Insufficient security will impede the United States’ ability to share certain information within trusted networks. This is just what China wants: to divide western alliances through bits and bytes, not bullets and bombs.”
Pompeo was speaking in London where he had discussions with the prime minister, Theresa May, and the foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt. The chief topic in the talks was the UK government decision to allow Huawei limited access to 5G networks, although the Iran nuclear deal and planning for a post-Brexit free trade deal were also discussed.Pompeo was speaking in London where he had discussions with the prime minister, Theresa May, and the foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt. The chief topic in the talks was the UK government decision to allow Huawei limited access to 5G networks, although the Iran nuclear deal and planning for a post-Brexit free trade deal were also discussed.
The US has been telling its allies not to use Huawei’s equipment because of fears it could be a vehicle for Chinese spying, accusations the company has categorically denied.The US has been telling its allies not to use Huawei’s equipment because of fears it could be a vehicle for Chinese spying, accusations the company has categorically denied.
Pompeo said: “The United States has an obligation to ensure that places where we want to operate, places where American information is, places where we have our national security resident, they operate inside trusted networks. With respect to 5G, we continue to have technical discussions, we’re making our views very well known. From America’s perspective, each country has a sovereign right to make its own decision about how to deal with the challenge.”Pompeo said: “The United States has an obligation to ensure that places where we want to operate, places where American information is, places where we have our national security resident, they operate inside trusted networks. With respect to 5G, we continue to have technical discussions, we’re making our views very well known. From America’s perspective, each country has a sovereign right to make its own decision about how to deal with the challenge.”
Hunt stressed the UK would never take a decision that undermined the UK’s special relationship with the US, or that undermined the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. Britain would “never take a decision that compromised our ability to share intelligence” with its close allies, he said.Hunt stressed the UK would never take a decision that undermined the UK’s special relationship with the US, or that undermined the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. Britain would “never take a decision that compromised our ability to share intelligence” with its close allies, he said.
The culture secretary, Jeremy Wright, separately said it was still possible the roll-out of 5G networks in Britain could be delayed by a review into telecoms equipment. “The primary intention of this process is to get the security of the network right,” he said.The culture secretary, Jeremy Wright, separately said it was still possible the roll-out of 5G networks in Britain could be delayed by a review into telecoms equipment. “The primary intention of this process is to get the security of the network right,” he said.
Pompeo said the issue was not just a technical dispute, but a matter of profound geopolitical importance requiring an assessment in the round of an authoritarian regime that is integrated into the western economy in a way Russia had never been.Pompeo said the issue was not just a technical dispute, but a matter of profound geopolitical importance requiring an assessment in the round of an authoritarian regime that is integrated into the western economy in a way Russia had never been.
He said Britain had to be “vigilant and vocal against a host of Chinese activities that undermine the sovereignty of all nations”. Pompeo said the Arctic north must not go the same way as the South China Sea, and hit out at the way China used the corruption and debt-trap diplomacy inherent in the Belt and Road scheme to drag countries into its orbit.He said Britain had to be “vigilant and vocal against a host of Chinese activities that undermine the sovereignty of all nations”. Pompeo said the Arctic north must not go the same way as the South China Sea, and hit out at the way China used the corruption and debt-trap diplomacy inherent in the Belt and Road scheme to drag countries into its orbit.
“China peddles corrupt infrastructure deals in exchange for political influence,” he said. “Its bribe-fuelled debt-trap diplomacy undermines good governance and threatens to upend the free market economic model on which so many countries depend.”“China peddles corrupt infrastructure deals in exchange for political influence,” he said. “Its bribe-fuelled debt-trap diplomacy undermines good governance and threatens to upend the free market economic model on which so many countries depend.”
Despite the differences in the special relationship, he vowed the UK would be at the front of the queue for any free trade deal if it left the EU. He wished the UK “godspeed” in reaching a decision, adding the US would back whatever conclusion was finally reached.Despite the differences in the special relationship, he vowed the UK would be at the front of the queue for any free trade deal if it left the EU. He wished the UK “godspeed” in reaching a decision, adding the US would back whatever conclusion was finally reached.
HuaweiHuawei
Mike PompeoMike Pompeo
Margaret ThatcherMargaret Thatcher
US politicsUS politics
US foreign policyUS foreign policy
ChinaChina
Asia PacificAsia Pacific
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