Defence Secretary Has 'Deep Concerns' About Chinese Tech Firm

Gavin Williamson said the "Chinese state does sometimes act in a malign way." (Picture: PA). 

The Defence Secretary has said he has "very deep concerns" about the involvement of the Chinese technology firm Huawei in the upgrading of Britain’s mobile network.

Allies such as Australia, New Zealand and the US have all placed restrictions on Huawei technology in 5G mobile networks and Gavin Williamson said the British Government would look at their example.

"I have grave, very deep concerns about Huawei providing the 5G network in Britain. It's something we'd have to look at very closely," Mr Williamson told The Times.

"We've got to look at what partners such as Australia and the US are doing in order to ensure that they have the maximum security of that 5G network and we've got to recognise the fact, as has been recently exposed, that the Chinese state does sometimes act in a malign way."

The firm was founded by a former officer in the People's Liberation Army but rejects claims that it is a security risk and says Huawei has "never been asked by any government to build any backdoors or interrupt any networks, and we would never tolerate such behaviour by any of our staff".

However MI6 chief Alex Younger said earlier this month that:

"We need to decide the extent to which we are going to be comfortable with Chinese ownership of these technologies and these platforms in an environment where some of our allies have taken a quite definite position.

"We need to have a conversation. It's not wholly straightforward."

Concerns over China's activities have been heightened in recent weeks, with Britain accusing Beijing of a massive programme of industrial espionage in a "widespread and significant" campaign of "cyber intrusions" against the UK and its allies.

The Foreign Office said hackers acting on behalf of the Chinese Ministry of State Security were stealing commercial secrets from firms in Europe, Asia and the US.

Officials said their activities were so extensive, they were "putting at risk" economic growth in the UK and the wider global economy.