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UK's Huawei 5G network ban 'disappointing and wrong' Huawei: China attacks UK's 'groundless' ban of 5G kit
(about 4 hours later)
China's ambassador to the UK has called Britain's decision to ban telecoms giant Huawei from its 5G network "disappointing and wrong". The Chinese government has said it is "strongly opposed" to the UK's "groundless" ban of Huawei's 5G kit.
The UK government has ordered companies to strip equipment from Huawei out of the system by 2027. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying added Beijing would "take measures to safeguard" the "legitimate interests" of Chinese companies.
It follows sanctions imposed by the US, which claims the Chinese firm poses a national security threat - something Huawei denies. But President Trump welcomed the move.
US President Trump welcomed the UK decision, calling Huawei "unsafe". "We convinced many countries, many countries - and I did this myself for the most part - not to use Huawei because we think it's an unsafe security risk," the US leader said.
"We convinced many countries, many countries - and I did this myself for the most part - not to use Huawei because we think it's an unsafe security risk, it's a big security risk," he said.
Mr Trump made the comments as he attempted to increase pressure on Beijing by announcing an executive order ending preferential treatment for Hong Kong in response to a new security law brought in by China.Mr Trump made the comments as he attempted to increase pressure on Beijing by announcing an executive order ending preferential treatment for Hong Kong in response to a new security law brought in by China.
In response to the 5G network ban, Chinese ambassador Liu Xiaoming questioned whether the UK can provide a "fair" business environment for foreign firms.
"Disappointing and wrong decision by the UK on Huawei," he tweeted.
"It has become questionable whether the UK can provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment for companies from other countries."
Huawei's chief security officer in the US, Andy Purdy, said the move was "very bad news for Huawei" but that the UK would suffer an "even greater negative impact" both financially and on the "equality of service between rural Britain and urban Britain".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Huawei hopes the UK government will reconsider its decision, and offered "additional information" to give ministers "the level of confidence that has been shaken" by the US government's sanctions.
Huawei's UK communications director Ed Brewster told BBC's Newsnight the ban had been announced "because of the pressure from the US".
"I think this is clear this is not about security, this is about trade. This is a US campaign focused on attacking our business and attacking the technology and that is because the US is behind on the technology," he said.
"We are in a long-term... trade dispute escalation from the US around how it wants to retain technology leadership."
Mr Brewster also moved to distance the company from the perception that it is an arm of the Chinese state, adding: "We don't work for governments, we work for the telecoms networks."
Huawei has repeatedly said it would not cause harm to any country.Huawei has repeatedly said it would not cause harm to any country.
What does the ban involve? 'Groundless risks'
The UK's mobile providers are being banned from buying new Huawei 5G equipment after 31 December, and they must also remove all the Chinese firm's 5G kit from their networks by 2027. The UK's digital secretary announced on Tuesday the country's telecoms networks would not be allowed to buy new Huawei 5G kit from 31 December and all such equipment should be stripped out of mobile networks by 2027.
The decision came after the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) warned that highly restrictive US sanctions meant the security of Huawei's equipment could not be guaranteed. In addition, it wants BT's Openreach and other broadband infrastructure providers to stop using Huawei's gear in the rollout of full-fibre broadband within the next couple of years.
China's ambassador to the UK said the decision was "not only disappointing, it's disheartening".
"The way you treat Huawei will be followed very closely by other Chinese businesses," Liu Xiaoming added.
But the foreign ministry arguably used even stronger language.
"The UK side has used groundless risks as an excuse to co-operate with the United States... violating the relevant commitments made by the UK," Ms Hua said.
'Negative implications'
"Any decisions and actions must come at a cost," she added, without being more specific.
Mr Huiyao Wang - an adviser to the Chinese government - told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Beijing still hoped the 2027 ban might be reversed before it came into effect.
But, as things stood, it could have an impact on other Chinese investment in Britain.
"It goes against the UK tradition as the open liberal leader in free trade," the founder of the Centre for China and Globalisation think tank said.
"This is going to probably have very negative implications."
Chip supplies
The UK government said it had based its decision on the advice of security chiefs who had judged they could no longer mitigate the risks of using Huawei's equipment in light of new US sanctions.
The sanctions are designed to prevent the company having its own chips manufactured, making it buy in supplies from elsewhere.
And GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre said this meant Huawei's equipment was likely to face more "security and reliability problems" as a consequence.
Robert Hannigan, the former director of GCHQ, told BBC News the sanctions had indeed made "a critical difference".
"[It] really pushes all the production and design and testing into China and makes it extremely difficult for anyone to see what is going on," he said.
But he did not believe any Chinese retaliation would come in the form of a hack attack.
"No doubt China will want to express its displeasure," Mr Hannigan said.
"But there's no particular reason to think that will be in cyber-space
"There will be a lot of a lot of sound and fury.
"It may not amount to that much in the end."
The UK accounts for a only small fraction of Huawei's revenue, which grew 13% in the first half of the year despite earlier efforts by Washington to disrupt its business.
However, its concern is Westminster's move will motivate other countries to take similar measures.
What does the ban entail?
Announcing the ban to the House of Commons on Tuesday, Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said it had not been an easy decision but was the right one for UK telecoms networks, national security and the UK economy.Announcing the ban to the House of Commons on Tuesday, Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said it had not been an easy decision but was the right one for UK telecoms networks, national security and the UK economy.
He said the move would delay the country's 5G rollout by a year and the cumulative cost, when coupled with earlier restrictions announced against Huawei, would be up to £2bn. He said the cumulative cost, when coupled with earlier restrictions announced against Huawei, would be up to £2bn, and the total delay to 5G's rollout would be two to three years .
5G technology promises faster internet speeds and the capacity to support more wireless devices, which should be a boon to everything from mobile gaming to higher-quality video streams. 5G connections are already available in dozens of UK cities and towns, but coverage can be sparse.5G technology promises faster internet speeds and the capacity to support more wireless devices, which should be a boon to everything from mobile gaming to higher-quality video streams. 5G connections are already available in dozens of UK cities and towns, but coverage can be sparse.
The UK last reviewed Huawei's role in its telecoms infrastructure in January, when it was decided to let the company remain a supplier but introduced a cap on its market share.The UK last reviewed Huawei's role in its telecoms infrastructure in January, when it was decided to let the company remain a supplier but introduced a cap on its market share.
But in May the US introduced new sanctions designed to disrupt Huawei's ability to get its own chips manufactured.But in May the US introduced new sanctions designed to disrupt Huawei's ability to get its own chips manufactured.
The Trump administration claims that Huawei provides a gateway for China to spy on and potentially attack countries that use its equipment, suggestions the company strongly rejects.The Trump administration claims that Huawei provides a gateway for China to spy on and potentially attack countries that use its equipment, suggestions the company strongly rejects.
The US has called for members of the Five Eyes alliance - which also includes the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand - to avoid Huawei kit.The US has called for members of the Five Eyes alliance - which also includes the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand - to avoid Huawei kit.