Huawei, US-China tensions and West’s 5G fears on the agenda as Beijing joins security talks
- Yang Jiechi can expect to field some tough questions over Huawei partnerships
- US officials expected to continue to ‘lecture’ European allies over 5G alliances
China’s most senior diplomat is expected to try to assuage Western cybersecurity fears at a top gathering in Germany on Friday, analysts said.
State Councillor Yang Jiechi will be confronted by the US and its allies on issues including Venezuela, Iran and Chinese technology giant Huawei’s part in developing 5G networks at the three-day Munich Security Conference.
With a trade conflict and a military rivalry between Beijing and Washington simmer in the background, conference organisers expect 35 heads of government and heads of state, and 50 foreign and defence ministers, including an American delegation with Vice-President Mike Pence, to attend.
Yang, a member of the Communist Party’s Politburo, will represent China at the conference, which he last attended in 2015. Last year’s conference was attended by Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
This year’s topics include the “great power competition” between the United States, China, and Russia. In a report released on Monday, conference organisers listed US-China tensions as one of their top 10 security issues of 2019.