Sanctions placed on China by the United States of America will have a “significant impact” on Huawei’s reliability according to the Government’s Culture Secretary.
Oliver Dowden’s comments come amid China’s takeover of Hong Kong which has been seen as illegal by the UK government through the so called “Security Bill”. The Bill gives China the authority to arrest citizens of Hong Kong for campaigning for independence or protesting against Chinese rule.
The US government had put sanctions on Huawei by placing it on an export control list. The move attempted to limit the company’s access to US-made and designed semiconductors needed for products including telecoms network gear and smartphones.
It was intended for Huawei to play a big role in the creation of the UK’s 5G network, a decision which is now in doubt.
Oliver Dowden said on LBC Radio: “In relation to Huawei, we’ve had these US sanctions that were imposed a couple of months ago. I’ve asked the National Cyber Security Centre to analyse the impact of them.
“It seems likely they’re going to have a significant impact on the reliability of Huawei, I’ve just received that advice, I will be discussing that with the Prime Minister and if there’s any change of policy arising from it I will make an announcement.
“I would certainly aim to do that before Parliament rises for the summer recess, so later this month.”
He also stated in a separate interview with the BBC, that the US sanctions will present challenges to the deal.
On BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he said: “Yes, I have (received the National Cyber Security Centre report) and with my officials we’re now examining it and understanding the implications of it.”
When asked what this meant in relation to the Huawei, he said: “The point of commissioning this advice from the NCSC is to understand the implications of the US sanctions. Clearly the US sanctions will present challenges and that is what that advice is about.”
The decision to include Huawei in the creation the 5G network in the UK was met by resistance from some in the Prime Minister’s own party. A group of MPs led by Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Owen Paterson, David Davis and Damian Green, had aimed to put down an amendment to phase Huawei out of the UK’s 5G network by 2022.
