China accuses UK of ‘deep-rooted pride and prejudice’ after Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson raised deep concerns over Huawei’s involvement in 5G network
- The Chinese firm Huawei has been linked to Britain’s roll-out of 5G networks
- Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said he had ‘deep concerns’ about the firm
- But the Chinese have hit back saying allegations against the firm are ‘groundless’
China has accused the UK of ‘deep-rooted pride and prejudice’ in response to concern about technology firm Huawei’s role in upgrading the UK’s mobile network.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson recently said he had ‘very deep concerns’ about the Chinese company’s involvement in the UK’s roll-out of 5G.
But Chinese Ministry of National Defence spokesperson Wu Qian called allegations against the company ‘groundless’, according to Global Times, a Communist Party-run newspaper.
Huawei’s chairman has also spoken out about the company’s ‘incredibly unfair treatment’ in a new year’s message.
‘We must not be discouraged by malicious incidents or temporary setbacks, and must remain determined to achieve global leadership,’ Guo Ping said.
The UK headquarters of Huawei in Reading, Berkshire. Gavin Williamson recently said he had ‘very deep concerns’ about the Chinese company’s involvement in the UK’s roll-out of 5G
Mr Williamson said in comments reported in The Times earlier this week that he had ‘grave, very deep concerns about Huawei providing the 5G network in Britain’.
‘It’s something we’d have to look at very closely,’ the Defence Secretary said.
But Mr Ping said that Huawei is ahead of rivals and that countries who choose not to work with them on 5G will be like ‘an NBA game without star players’.
‘The game will go on, but with less deftness, flair, and expertise,’ he explained.
‘Setbacks will only make us more courageous, and incredibly unfair treatment will drive us to become the world’s number one.’
Australia, New Zealand and the US have already restricted use of Huawei technology in 5G mobile networks.
Huawei was founded by a former officer in the People’s Liberation Army and questions have previously been raised about possible improper links to the Chinese state, something Huawei has always denied.
Earlier this month, the head of MI6, Alex Younger, said the UK would have to make ‘some decisions’ about such firms after other governments had taken steps to block Huawei.
BT is in the process of removing Huawei equipment from the key parts of its 3G and 4G networks to meet an existing internal policy not to have the Chinese firm at the centre of its infrastructure.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured) recently said he had ‘very deep concerns’ about the Chinese company’s involvement in the UK’s roll-out of 5G