US asks its allies to ditch Huawei devices

THE US government has asked its allies to stop using equipment developed by Huawei, the Chinese telecom company with links to the country’s military, amid fears over espionage.

US officials have contacted the governments of Japan, Italy and Germany to warn them not to use Huawei devices, and discussed the possibility of offering them financial incentives in return according to The Wall Street Journal. They are also thought to have contacted counterparts in Britain.

Huawei is one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of telecom equipment, including the network kit required for next generation 5G mobile networks.

The threat of espionage by using Huawei network gear is thought to be a particular concern in countries that host US military bases, according to the WSJ.

Six US military bases operate in the UK, including RAF Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire, a communications interception base that is run by US staff.

The Cabinet Office last night did not deny being contacted by the US government about Huawei equipment. “We have a clear policy on the use of Huawei equipment in critical UK networks, and this has not changed,” a government spokesman said.

In May, the Pentagon banned retail outlets on US military bases from selling smartphones produced by Huawei.