Huawei To Build Part of Britain’s New 5G Network

British Culture Secretary insists that Huawei’s involvement in the country’s 5G infrastructure will not present an increased security threat. (Flickr)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson refused to ban Huawei from helping to build the country’s 5G cellular network, defying a U.S.-led campaign against the Chinese telecommunications company. The British government will restrict Huawei’s involvement to non-core parts of 5G infrastructure, while also ensuring that the company’s share of the market is capped at 35 percent. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized the decision and implied that future U.S.-U.K. intelligence cooperation may be affected by concerns over the ability of the Chinese government to access Huawei’s networks.

The installation of 5G networks around the world turned into an unexpected battleground between the U.S. and China, both of which have intensely lobbied Britain in recent months. The Trump administration argued that Huawei’s links with the Chinese Communist Party pose serious national security risks to any country that uses its 5G infrastructure. The Chinese government warned of economic retaliation if countries ban Huawei. The heightened tensions led the New York Times to describe the dispute as a “tech cold war.”

Britain is the most prominent country so far to reject American warnings. As the U.K. is a close ally of the U.S., the situation generated fears for U.S. policymakers that other countries could follow suit. The British government and its own intelligence agencies argue that the current plan ensures that any security risks will be managed and minimized. Nicky Morgan, the British culture secretary, insists that the security services have experience dealing with Huawei’s involvement in Britain’s 4G network. Therefore, the decision does “not present the security challenge that others are worried about.” Huawei, which has long denied that it is beholden to the Chinese government, also welcomed the deal.

However, a backlash is brewing against the British decision, both at home and abroad. A number of Johnson’s own Conservative MPs publicly criticized the announcement, threatening a rebellion if the government does not commit to expelling Huawei from British telecommunications infrastructure within three years. Pompeo also restated the U.S.’s opposition to Huawei while on a visit to London. He told reporters that the U.S. “will never permit American international security information to go across a network that we don’t have trust and confidence in,” implying that future U.S. intelligence-sharing with the U.K. may be jeopardized.

With Britain’s departure from the EU, the U.S.-U.K. relationship is as vital to Johnson’s government as ever. At the same time, Britain must also maintain a good relationship with China, a significant investor in the country. As the Huawei decision suggests, the balancing act required in Britain could lead to many complications.