Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Britain Poised to Ban Huawei

Jamie Dettmer

   The British government is set to end the participation of Chinese
   telecom giant Huawei in the building of Britain's 5G phone network -- a
   policy about-turn that will further deteriorate London's strained
   relations with Beijing, but will please Washington, according to
   British media reports.

   The major policy change follows a fresh reassessment by Britain's
   National Cyber Security Center, or NCSC, on the eavesdropping risks
   posed by the Chinese company, according to Britain's Sunday Telegraph
   newspaper.

   British officials have confirmed to VOA the newspaper report is
   accurate.

   Previously the NCSC, a department within Britain's intelligence agency
   GCHQ, said the security risks posed by Huawei could be safely managed
   and mitigated, a view not shared by U.S. intelligence agencies. But the
   imposition last month of new U.S. restrictions on Huawei has altered
   the picture, the NCSC warns.

   Britain's cybersecurity chiefs now conclude the sanctions, which block
   Huawei from using components and semi-conductors based on any American
   intellectual property, will mean the telecom giant will have to use
   "untrusted" parts, increasing security risks.

   British officials are drawing up a timetable for the removal of Huawei
   equipment already installed in the 5G network. British telecom firms BT
   and Vodafone have asked the government to give them until 2030 to strip
   Huawei components from the existing 5G infrastructure, but officials
   say Downing Street wants much speedier action, even if it means slowing
   down the roll-out of the new network.

   Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the House of Commons foreign affairs
   committee, welcomed the reports, saying, "The government's change of
   heart is very welcome."

   The planned policy reversal comes amid a mounting diplomatic dispute
   between Britain and Beijing over the introduction by the Chinese
   government of a new draconian security law that allows Chinese security
   agencies to arrest pro-democracy campaigners in Hong Kong, a former
   British enclave. To Beijing's anger, Britain announced Hong Kong
   residents would be allowed to move to Britain.

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