Following China's imposition of "national security laws" on Hong Kong, the United Kingdom has strongly hinted that the Chinese company Huawei will be banned from participating in the 5G network in Britain, The Telegraph reports.
Earlier this week, new legislation came into force in Hong Kong which includes life sentences for certain crimes defined as subversive by China. Hundreds of arrests have already been made, and the UK, Australia, and Taiwan have indicated that they may pass laws allowing Hongkongers to seek asylum. The UK, which held control over Hong Kong until 1997, has stated that it will potentially grant citizenship to around three million Hong Kong residents, with China hinting that it will seek ways in which to retaliate.
Yesterday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told The London Evening Standard: “I don’t want to see our critical national infrastructure at risk of being in any way controlled by potentially hostile state vendors. So we have to think very carefully about how to proceed now.”
Former PM Iain Duncan Smith added that, "The free world has got to come together ... otherwise China will just pick people off one after another ... [China needs to be] eradicated from secure areas ... [and the] number one target is Huawei ... it's over for them and they should know it."