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| Britain, resisting U.S. pressure, to allow some Huawei equipment in 5G networks | Britain, resisting U.S. pressure, to allow some Huawei equipment in 5G networks |
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| LONDON — The British government announced Tuesday that it plans to allow the Chinese telecom giant Huawei to build "non-core" infrastructure for the country's coming super-fast 5G network, although the company may be designated a "high-risk vendor" with a capped market share. | LONDON — The British government announced Tuesday that it plans to allow the Chinese telecom giant Huawei to build "non-core" infrastructure for the country's coming super-fast 5G network, although the company may be designated a "high-risk vendor" with a capped market share. |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been under tremendous pressure from the U.S. government to ban Huawei outright from Britain’s 5G communications network. | Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been under tremendous pressure from the U.S. government to ban Huawei outright from Britain’s 5G communications network. |
| The U.S. government has called Huawei a threat to national security, saying the Chinese government could tap into Huawei equipment to spy on the West or disrupt critical infrastructure. U.S. officials suggested that dismissal of these concerns by London could threaten transatlantic intelligence sharing and the U.S.-U.K. trade relationship. | The U.S. government has called Huawei a threat to national security, saying the Chinese government could tap into Huawei equipment to spy on the West or disrupt critical infrastructure. U.S. officials suggested that dismissal of these concerns by London could threaten transatlantic intelligence sharing and the U.S.-U.K. trade relationship. |
| Johnson — in one of his first major decisions as prime minister — is essentially seeking a middle path, wanting to allow Huawei to supply and build 5G but ban it from “core” systems, including intelligence, military and nuclear sites. Britain wants to limit the company’s market share to 35 percent. | Johnson — in one of his first major decisions as prime minister — is essentially seeking a middle path, wanting to allow Huawei to supply and build 5G but ban it from “core” systems, including intelligence, military and nuclear sites. Britain wants to limit the company’s market share to 35 percent. |
| The plan was approved by Britain’s National Security Council at a Tuesday meeting chaired by Johnson. The British government will now seek to legislate the proposals through Parliament. It is possible that the House of Commons could amend Johnson’s plan — loosening or strengthening Huawei’s hand. But following a landslide win in last month’s general election for Johnson and his Conservative Party, the government can count on parliamentary approval for most of its proposals. | The plan was approved by Britain’s National Security Council at a Tuesday meeting chaired by Johnson. The British government will now seek to legislate the proposals through Parliament. It is possible that the House of Commons could amend Johnson’s plan — loosening or strengthening Huawei’s hand. But following a landslide win in last month’s general election for Johnson and his Conservative Party, the government can count on parliamentary approval for most of its proposals. |
| Pentagon nixes proposal to toughen limits on U.S. sales to Huawei | Pentagon nixes proposal to toughen limits on U.S. sales to Huawei |
| Huawei, which has dismissed U.S. security concerns as unfounded, described Britain’s announcement Tuesday as a win. | Huawei, which has dismissed U.S. security concerns as unfounded, described Britain’s announcement Tuesday as a win. |
| “This evidence-based decision will result in a more advanced, more secure and more cost-effective telecoms infrastructure that is fit for the future. It gives the U.K. access to world-leading technology and ensures a competitive market,” Huawei Vice President Victor Zhang said in a statement. | |
| China critics in the United States Senate quickly panned the announcement. | |
| “This decision is deeply disappointing for American supporters of the Special Relationship. I fear London has freed itself from Brussels only to cede sovereignty to Beijing,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said in a tweet. | |
| “America has never been weaker. We have never had less influence. Not even our closest ally Britain, with a Trump soulmate in Downing Street, listens to us anymore,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) tweeted. | |
| In a telephone call after the news broke, Trump and Johnson “underlined the importance of like-minded countries working together to diversify the market and break the dominance of a small number of companies,” a Downing Street spokesman said by email. | |
| A brief White House statement said the leaders discussed telecommunications security. | |
| A senior Trump administration official who declined to be named said the United States was “disappointed” by the decision. “We continue to urge all countries to carefully assess the long-term national security and economic impacts of allowing untrusted vendors access to important 5G network infrastructure,” the official said. | A senior Trump administration official who declined to be named said the United States was “disappointed” by the decision. “We continue to urge all countries to carefully assess the long-term national security and economic impacts of allowing untrusted vendors access to important 5G network infrastructure,” the official said. |
| The British decision comes as a host of other countries, including Germany and Brazil, continue to debate Huawei’s role in their 5G networks. | The British decision comes as a host of other countries, including Germany and Brazil, continue to debate Huawei’s role in their 5G networks. |
| The United States has been pressing key allies to bar Huawei on national security grounds. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted Sunday that Britain had a “momentous decision ahead on 5G.” On Friday, Trump himself called Johnson to talk about Huawei. | The United States has been pressing key allies to bar Huawei on national security grounds. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted Sunday that Britain had a “momentous decision ahead on 5G.” On Friday, Trump himself called Johnson to talk about Huawei. |
| The American pressure has not won Britain over, largely because of concerns that pulling Huawei out of existing 4G networks would be cumbersome and costly. Major providers such as British Telecom are heavily invested in Huawei technology, and Britain does not want to fall behind in the 5G world. | The American pressure has not won Britain over, largely because of concerns that pulling Huawei out of existing 4G networks would be cumbersome and costly. Major providers such as British Telecom are heavily invested in Huawei technology, and Britain does not want to fall behind in the 5G world. |
| The coming super-fast 5G networks are expected to power the “Internet of Things,” enabling industrial, transport and everyday devices to be connected, to “talk” to each other and to share data constantly, powering future technologies such as driverless cars and smart household appliances. | The coming super-fast 5G networks are expected to power the “Internet of Things,” enabling industrial, transport and everyday devices to be connected, to “talk” to each other and to share data constantly, powering future technologies such as driverless cars and smart household appliances. |
| Supporters say 5G may usher in a “fourth industrial revolution.” Critics worry that the systems will allow for widespread spying, data harvesting and loss of privacy. | Supporters say 5G may usher in a “fourth industrial revolution.” Critics worry that the systems will allow for widespread spying, data harvesting and loss of privacy. |
| In addition to banning the sale of some U.S. technology to Huawei, Washington has also blocked Huawei from installing telecom equipment in the United States. Japan and Australia have also effectively banned Huawei from their 5G networks. | In addition to banning the sale of some U.S. technology to Huawei, Washington has also blocked Huawei from installing telecom equipment in the United States. Japan and Australia have also effectively banned Huawei from their 5G networks. |
| Britain has long signaled it intended to bar Huawei from government systems and “core” networks that contain routers and switches handling massive volumes of traffic, while allowing the Chinese equipment-maker into the “edge,” where radio antennae connect with user devices. | Britain has long signaled it intended to bar Huawei from government systems and “core” networks that contain routers and switches handling massive volumes of traffic, while allowing the Chinese equipment-maker into the “edge,” where radio antennae connect with user devices. |
| But the U.S. government has argued that even a limited presence is too much in a 5G network in which, officials say, the distinction between core and edge is virtually meaningless because so much more data can be processed at the network periphery. | But the U.S. government has argued that even a limited presence is too much in a 5G network in which, officials say, the distinction between core and edge is virtually meaningless because so much more data can be processed at the network periphery. |
| As London neared a decision, the Trump administration stepped up its campaign to persuade its ally to bar Huawei. A high-level delegation including deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, special representative for international telecommunications policy Robert Blair and Robert Strayer, deputy assistant secretary of state for cyber and international communications policy, flew to London this month to make their pitch. | As London neared a decision, the Trump administration stepped up its campaign to persuade its ally to bar Huawei. A high-level delegation including deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, special representative for international telecommunications policy Robert Blair and Robert Strayer, deputy assistant secretary of state for cyber and international communications policy, flew to London this month to make their pitch. |
| They reiterated their case that having a Chinese company that is beholden to potential Chinese government demands for access would pose not only a surveillance risk but also a threat of network disruption if a conflict escalated. They shared technical information aimed at persuading officials that the national security risks of using Huawei technology could not be adequately mitigated. | They reiterated their case that having a Chinese company that is beholden to potential Chinese government demands for access would pose not only a surveillance risk but also a threat of network disruption if a conflict escalated. They shared technical information aimed at persuading officials that the national security risks of using Huawei technology could not be adequately mitigated. |
| The U.S. delegation stressed that if Britain were to let Huawei into its 5G network, the U.S. government would have to reassess whether the British could sufficiently protect shared intelligence. | The U.S. delegation stressed that if Britain were to let Huawei into its 5G network, the U.S. government would have to reassess whether the British could sufficiently protect shared intelligence. |
| Huawei helped bring Internet to small-town America. Now its equipment has to go. | Huawei helped bring Internet to small-town America. Now its equipment has to go. |
| Also amping up the pressure is the U.S. Congress. A group of Republican lawmakers this month introduced legislation that would bar U.S. intelligence-sharing with any country that allows Huawei into its 5G network. Although it is not expected to pass — at least not in its current form — the threat sends a signal that Congress does not intend to sit on the sidelines on the issue. | |
| British lawmakers, industry lobbyists and privacy activists are themselves divided. Intelligence officials last March delivered a scathing assessment of the security risks posed by Huawei in telecom networks, saying they found “significant technical issues” in the firm’s engineering processes as well as “concerning issues” in its software. | British lawmakers, industry lobbyists and privacy activists are themselves divided. Intelligence officials last March delivered a scathing assessment of the security risks posed by Huawei in telecom networks, saying they found “significant technical issues” in the firm’s engineering processes as well as “concerning issues” in its software. |
| Many European countries, including Britain, have long used Huawei gear in their 3G and 4G networks. | Many European countries, including Britain, have long used Huawei gear in their 3G and 4G networks. |
| British officials and lawmakers wrestled with the decision for more than a year, with some signaling skepticism about a full ban. In a June speech, the head of Britain’s National Cyber Security Center, Ciaran Martin, said the country needed to consider a broad range of threats. | British officials and lawmakers wrestled with the decision for more than a year, with some signaling skepticism about a full ban. In a June speech, the head of Britain’s National Cyber Security Center, Ciaran Martin, said the country needed to consider a broad range of threats. |
| “The most significant attack on U.K. [telecommunications] in recent years that we know of was Russian, and we don’t have any Russian-owned or -flagged kit in our [telecommunications] networks,” he said. | “The most significant attack on U.K. [telecommunications] in recent years that we know of was Russian, and we don’t have any Russian-owned or -flagged kit in our [telecommunications] networks,” he said. |
| Last summer, Parliament’s Science and Technology Committee said Britain should ban Huawei from the most sensitive, core operations of its 5G network. It said it saw no technical grounds for completely excluding the Chinese company’s gear, although it added there could be “geopolitical or ethical grounds for the government to decide to enact a ban.” | Last summer, Parliament’s Science and Technology Committee said Britain should ban Huawei from the most sensitive, core operations of its 5G network. It said it saw no technical grounds for completely excluding the Chinese company’s gear, although it added there could be “geopolitical or ethical grounds for the government to decide to enact a ban.” |
| Next few months may show if Huawei can thrive without U.S. tech sales | Next few months may show if Huawei can thrive without U.S. tech sales |
| In Brussels, European Union policymakers are set to unveil a set of draft guidelines Wednesday that would give E.U. countries the tools to exclude Huawei from their networks should they choose to do so. | In Brussels, European Union policymakers are set to unveil a set of draft guidelines Wednesday that would give E.U. countries the tools to exclude Huawei from their networks should they choose to do so. |
| The E.U. has been skeptical of the role of Huawei in the development of 5G networks, but it lacks the ability to ban the Chinese company across the bloc. Instead, individual capitals make the decisions, giving Beijing greater leverage to pressure countries. | The E.U. has been skeptical of the role of Huawei in the development of 5G networks, but it lacks the ability to ban the Chinese company across the bloc. Instead, individual capitals make the decisions, giving Beijing greater leverage to pressure countries. |
| The possibility that Huawei could expand its role in European networks has unsettled U.S. security experts. U.S. intelligence agencies may restrict the information they share with their European counterparts, for instance — even in the case of the British, with whom they have a closer relationship than with any other foreign power. | The possibility that Huawei could expand its role in European networks has unsettled U.S. security experts. U.S. intelligence agencies may restrict the information they share with their European counterparts, for instance — even in the case of the British, with whom they have a closer relationship than with any other foreign power. |
| “I would imagine it would have a dampening effect on the willingness to share certain things,” Ben Hodges, the former commander of U.S. Army Europe, said of the British decision. | “I would imagine it would have a dampening effect on the willingness to share certain things,” Ben Hodges, the former commander of U.S. Army Europe, said of the British decision. |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel has publicly rejected the idea of banning any company “simply because it’s from a certain country,” and she is seen as reluctant to alienate either China or the United States, two large buyers of German cars and machinery. But German intelligence officials and some members of Merkel’s own party have pushed for a tougher stance against Huawei, sparking a fiery debate that has delayed a final decision. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel has publicly rejected the idea of banning any company “simply because it’s from a certain country,” and she is seen as reluctant to alienate either China or the United States, two large buyers of German cars and machinery. But German intelligence officials and some members of Merkel’s own party have pushed for a tougher stance against Huawei, sparking a fiery debate that has delayed a final decision. |
| Germany’s Foreign Office, Interior Ministry and intelligence services “all emphasize the risks of Huawei,” while “the Federal Chancellery and Ministry for Economic Affairs are against a ban,” researchers with the German Council on Foreign Relations wrote in a recent report. | Germany’s Foreign Office, Interior Ministry and intelligence services “all emphasize the risks of Huawei,” while “the Federal Chancellery and Ministry for Economic Affairs are against a ban,” researchers with the German Council on Foreign Relations wrote in a recent report. |
| In December, China’s ambassador to Berlin, Ken Wu, warned there could be “consequences” for Germany if it excludes Huawei. Speaking at a forum hosted by the newspaper Handelsblatt, Wu noted that Germany sells millions of cars a year in China, the world’s largest auto market. | In December, China’s ambassador to Berlin, Ken Wu, warned there could be “consequences” for Germany if it excludes Huawei. Speaking at a forum hosted by the newspaper Handelsblatt, Wu noted that Germany sells millions of cars a year in China, the world’s largest auto market. |
| “Could we say one day that the German cars are not safe because we are able to manufacture our own cars?” he said. “No. That is pure protectionism.” | “Could we say one day that the German cars are not safe because we are able to manufacture our own cars?” he said. “No. That is pure protectionism.” |
| Nakashima and Whalen reported from Washington. Michael Birnbaum in Brussels contributed to this report. | Nakashima and Whalen reported from Washington. Michael Birnbaum in Brussels contributed to this report. |
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| Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world | Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world |
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