Huawei ‘is an arm of the Chinese state’

US hits back in web firm spying row

THE US last night hit out at Britain’s decision to let Huawei help build its 5G network – warning the telecoms giant was part of the Chinese communist regime.

Secretary of state Mike Pompeo said America would review intelligence sharing with the UK following the move.

It came as Boris Johnson faced a growing rebellion among Tory MPs who want further curbs on Huawei’s limited role in helping build 5G, the new ultra-fast broadband. Mr Pompeo, who flew in for talks with the Prime Minister in Downing Street yesterday, urged Mr Johnson to have another look at the decision.

He said: ‘Our view of Huawei is: putting it in your system creates real risk.

‘This is an extension of the Chinese Communist Party with a legal requirement to hand over information.’

British security officials suspect Huawei of having links to China’s security services and say they have ‘never trusted’ the firm. But ministers decided that banning it would delay the rollout of 5G by up to three years, with massive knock-on costs for consumers and the economy.

The National Security Council this week gave the go-ahead for Huawei to play a role.

In a compromise deal, the firm will be banned from involvement in core infrastructure which has access to sensitive data.

It will instead be restricted to supplying the ‘edge’ of the system such as masts and antennae with its market share capped at 35 per cent. The Prime Minister told Donald Trump on Tuesday night that Britain would work with Western allies to diversify the technology market and ‘break the dominance’ of companies like Huawei.

Mr Johnson’s charm offensive appeared to head off immediate reprisals from the US President, who had lobbied for a blanket ban on Huawei.

But Mr Pompeo yesterday said he was concerned about the impact on intelligence sharing during dinner with

Foreign Secretary Dominic raab. Downing Street insisted the Huawei decision would not affect passing sensitive data to allies as this was done via secure networks.

Despite the reassurances, some Tory MPs want the Government to limit the firm’s use further or ban it altogether.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: ‘We want to see modifications and changes made. We want to see commitment to actually getting Huawei out of the system over a period of time.’

‘Never trusted the company’