Huawei feels ‘bone-deep bite of winter’ after US ban

THE chairman of Huawei has warned that ‘survival’ must be the Chinese tech giant’s priority as it faces a boycott by western countries.

Eric Xu said life would remain hard for the telecoms firm after it was banned from doing business in the US over spying fears. In the UK, it is awaiting a decision on whether it should be allowed to participate in the rollout of 5G mobile networks.

But in a defiant message to staff, Xu urged them to fight back against the pressure by going ‘all- out’. ‘If not for the bone-deep bite of winter, where would we get the heady scent of plums?’ Xu added.

It comes as Huawei is fighting American-led calls for its equipment to be boycotted, with critics claiming it could be used for spying by Beijing.

This follows long-held concerns about the firm’s links with China’s communist government, including some £57bn it is alleged to have received in financial support.

Huawei denies the claims. But the company already faces bans in the US, Australia and New Zealand, three of the Five Eyes intelligence- sharing nations, with the UK and Canada yet to decide on whether it can participate. In Europe, Germany is also due to make a decision on the matter.

It has prompted threats from China that it could retaliate by reducing trade with countries who sideline Huawei.

Donald Trump’s White House has warned allies that it could restrict intelligence sharing if Huawei supplies them 5G kit.

Responding, Prime Minister Boris Johnson hinted he could side with Washington when he is due to decide later this month.

At a Nato summit in December Johnson said: ‘We cannot prejudice our vital national security interests. That will be the key criterion that informs our decision.’

It was reported on Sunday that security chiefs had given Johnson the go-ahead to allow Huawei into Britain’s 5G network, with certain restrictions.