EX-MI6 boss warns of links between Huawei and Chinese military
THERE is “close linkage” between Huawei and the Chinese military, a former head of MI6 has claimed as he urged the Government to reconsider its role in the UK’S mobile network.
Sir Richard Dearlove insisted that there was a “strategic security reason” for the Government to about-turn on its decision to grant the telecoms giant access to 5G infrastructure. His comments came ahead of a crucial meeting of the National Security Council tomorrow in which ministers are expected to block the purchase of any new Huawei equipment by the end of this year, with it removed from 5G by the mid-2020s.
“I think the relationship between the Chinese state and Huawei is absolutely clear cut,” Sir Richard said. “Huawei is not an ordinary international telecommunications company, it’s an intimate part of the Chinese state. There is close linkage undoubtedly between the Chinese military capability and Huawei.”
Huawei has always vehemently denied the claim that it has links to the Chinese military, with a spokesman saying such accusations are “categorically untrue and groundless”.
Sir Richard said that it was time for the UK to consider a “reset of the whole of our relationship” with China.
It comes as ministers fear Beijing could launch a cyber attack on Britain, with security sources warning of a “perfect storm” of diplomatic rows over Huawei, Hong Kong and China’s handling of the coronavirus crisis. Australian officials have claimed its government and industry bodies were targeted by China in retaliation for banning Huawei from its 5G network.
One minister told The Mail on Sunday that such a reaction in the UK had formed “part of our conversations”.
Asked if such a response was plausible, Sir Richard told Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News: “It’s a very aggressive step for the Chinese to take at this point in time. And I wonder whether they would, as it were, go that far at the moment. Of course it’s a threat and I think we’ve known quite significantly that the Chinese have developed this capability and are prepared to use it.”
Huawei has written to Downing Street requesting a meeting with Sir Edward Lister, Boris Johnson’s senior adviser, in which it will ask to delay its exit from the mobile phone network until after the next election in 2025. Sources told The Sunday Times it will pledge to cover the cost of maintaining the networks until then.
Robert O’brien, Donald Trump’s national security adviser, will today arrive in Paris for talks on China. Sir Mark Sedwill, the Cabinet Secretary will travel to meet him.
Meanwhile, Dr Li-meng Yan, a Chinese virologist, claimed Beijing knew about the coronavirus outbreak in December. The whistleblower alleges she was given the task by Prof Leo Poon, her supervisor at the Hong Kong School of Public Health. “The Chinese government refused to let overseas experts, including Hong Kong ones, do research in China,” she told Fox News.
Dr Yan has since fled to the US.