China Briefing | Britain ignored the US to welcome Huawei. Can Canada do the same with 5G and Meng Wanzhou’s trial?

The British cabinet rebuffed intense US lobbying over the Chinese tech firm, driving a wedge into the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance

There are lessons for PM Justin Trudeau as Canada looks to develop its mobile phone infrastructure amid legal proceedings over Meng’s extradition

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces some tough decisions. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:30am, 1 Feb 2020Updated: 5:54am, 25 Dec 2021

The British government’s decision on Tuesday to allow Chinese technology giant Huawei to develop the noncore elements of its 5G mobile phone networks should not come as a big surprise, given the hints senior British officials – including security personnel – have dropped over the past year.

But the fact that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s cabinet was able to rebuff the intense lobbying and threats by the administration of US President Donald Trump is no small feat, dealing a clear blow to the American campaign to convince its Western allies to ban Huawei on the grounds of national security.

The British decision was followed on Wednesday by the European Union’s announcement that effectively recommended its member nations limit – not ban – the Chinese company’s involvement in their development of next-generation mobile phone infrastructure.

The latest developments not only represent a win for Huawei but also for China, as Washington has clearly targeted the Chinese conglomerate as a proxy in its tech war against Beijing.

Chinese officials and state media have been wise not to gloat, as the fight is far from over. Britain’s decision is likely to make American officials redouble their efforts to pressure other allies to exclude Huawei from their telecommunications infrastructure.