‘Clear evidence of collusion between Huawei and Chinese state’, says UK govt report

The British Parliament’s Defence Committee has released a report which claims there is “clear evidence of collusion between Huawei and the Chinese state”.

The new report on the future of 5G security follows the UK government ordering that all Huawei equipment must be stripped out of UK telecommunication networks by 2027.

Initially, the government was ready to deal with Huawei to install the necessary technology for the country’s 5G networks but reversed its decision after public alarm over possible Chinese state interference and data-gathering.

The government has also ordered that British mobile network operators be banned from purchasing new Huawei equipment by the end of this year.

Tobias Ellwood MP, the chairman of the defence committee, which compiled the report said, “The West must urgently unite to advance a counterweight to China’s tech dominance.”

The UK government attitude is now that “large private companies in China often have links to the Chinese Communist Party, and this was one of the factors that led to Huawei being designated as a high-risk vendor”.

US trade restrictions on Huawei are also influencing opinions in Westminster, the home of the British parliament.

It is widely agreed among Western tech companies that although Chinese companies may not collude with the state willingly, they have no option when pressed by the Chinese authorities.

A Huawei spokesman said: “This report lacks credibility, as it is built on opinion rather than fact.

“We’re sure people will see through these accusations of collusion and remember instead what Huawei has delivered for Britain over the past 20 years.”