UK’s Huawei review hailed by Nato chief

West ‘can’t ignore consequences of China’s rise’

NATO’S SECRETARY-GENERAL has welcomed a review of Huawei’s involvement in the UK’s 5G network and warned that the West “cannot ignore the consequences of the rise of China”.

Jens Stoltenberg said Beijing’s influence was being felt far beyond Asia and the alliance had to respond to the fact that “China is coming closer to us” through investment in critical infrastructure such as 5G.

The UK Government allowed Huawei’s equipment to play a limited role in the 5G network in January.

But the Government has since launched another review assessing the impact of US sanctions on the firm.

Critics, especially Donald Trump’s US administration, have claimed Huawei’s equipment could be used to spy on people and governments in the West – allegations the company has repeatedly denied.

The UK Government agreed in January to allow Huawei’s equipment to play a limited role in the 5G network, but has since launched another review.

The company has repeatedly denied allegations that its equipment could be used to spy on people and governments in the West.

Mr Stoltenberg said Nato members had to focus on the “resilience of critical infrastructure” against a backdrop of Chinese investment in Europe.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “This is not about a global presence of Nato but it is about the global approach of Nato because China is coming closer to us – we see that in the Arctic, we see they are heavily investing in critical infrastructure in Europe, and we see of course China also operating in cyberspace.

“So this is not about deploying Nato into the South China Sea but responding to the fact that China is coming closer to us.”

On the issue of Huawei, he added: “I trust that the UK Government will design their networks in ways that protect the networks and make sure that the UK has secure 5G networks.

“And therefore also think it’s important that now there will be a new review looking at exactly how to make sure that that should happen.”

Mr Stoltenberg said China’s military might could not be ignored and the US and Europe had to remain united.

“We cannot ignore the consequences of the rise of China.

“China will soon have the biggest economy in the world, they already have the second largest defence budget.

“They are investing heavily in new modern capabilities, in the last five years they added 80 ships to their navy which equals the total amount of ships in the Royal Navy.

“China is becoming a more and more important military power, and we have to address that.”