Tangled in the US trade policy of recent years is the strong objection to the spread of products from Chinese technology giant Huawei, particularly its 5G networking products. It is believed by the intelligence community that the company’s equipment allows the Chinese government to spy on users, to steal intellectual property and perform cyber attacks.
Under the Trump administration, the US has pressured its allies to not incorporate Huawei’s products as they build out their 5G networks because we are all linked. China or Chinese companies could use the hardware in one country’s networks as a gateway to gathering information in all countries. In defiance of the US, the UK has decided to allow Huawei to build 35% of Britain’s 5G cell phone network.
Last month, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo published an article in Politico titled Europe Must Put Security First with 5G arguing that Europe shouldn’t trust Chinese firms with critical infrastructure. In the article, he pointed out that 5G networks are intimately connected with infrastructure, AI, autonomous vehicles, smart grids and other emerging technologies. He then claimed Huawei was involved in illegal practices around the world and received unfair Chinese government support for its operations.
Allowing China to build Europe’s 5G network, according to Pompeo, would be a major threat Europe’s privacy and security. From Pompeo’s perspective, China uses technology as a weapon of control and human rights suppression. In particular, the Secretary pointed out how China uses its technology to suppress human rights in the Xinjiang province.
The UK’s decision to ignore the US might symbolize a decline in America’s global power. Or, it may symbolize the UK’s desire to operate with greater independence from the rest of the world. Other European nations now have the option of following the UK’s lead or of following America’s advice.