Oxford bans cash from Chinese tech giant in spy storm

OXFORD University is suspending research grants and funding donations from Chinese firm Huawei amid growing security concerns about the company’s telecommunication technology.

While existing research contracts already received or committed with Huawei will go ahead, the university will not pursue new funding opportunities with the company, it said.

There are two ongoing projects in which Huawei has committed £692,000, the university said. An Oxford spokesman announced in a statement that the university ‘will not pursue new funding opportunities with Huawei at present’.

He added that the decision applies both to research funding and philanthropic donations: ‘The decision has been taken in the light of public concerns raised in recent months surrounding UK partnerships with Huawei.’ This latest setback for the company comes after Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said last month that he had ‘very deep concerns’ about the Chinese company’s involvement in the UK’s rollout of a 5G telecom network.

Earlier the same month, Alex Younger, the head of MI6, said the UK would have to make ‘some decisions’ about such firms after other governments had taken steps to block Huawei.

The company was founded in 1987 by Ren Zhengfei, a former officer in the People’s Liberation Army, prompting questions about possible improper links to the Chinese state. Mr Zhengfei denies the Chinese authorities have ever asked his company to help spy on its clients. He told reporters this week that he missed his daughter, Meng Wanzhou – also his company’s chief financial officer – who was arrested in Canada last month after being accused of breaking sanctions on Iran.

Miss Meng has been ordered to stay in Canada, where she is currently on bail. She now faces extradition to the US, which requested her arrest.

The telecom equipment maker’s actions are under scrutiny elsewhere. Last week, one of its sales executives was arrested in Poland,

‘We were not told of this decision’

where the authorities have accused him of spying. Huawei has since sacked the employee and denied any illegal behaviour was being carried out on its behalf.

A spokesman said of Oxford’s announcement: ‘ We were not informed of this decision and await the university’s full explanation.

‘As a private, employee- owned technology company, with a strong track record in R&D we believe partnership decisions should, like research, be evidence based.

‘We have operated in the UK since 2001, employ 1,500 people here and have long standing collaborations with 20 other UK universities,’ he added.