London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 03, 2025

Boris Johnson to cut Huawei from UK’s 5G network by 2023 as own party rebels & US steps up anti-Beijing pressure – report

Boris Johnson to cut Huawei from UK’s 5G network by 2023 as own party rebels & US steps up anti-Beijing pressure – report

The UK government is set to terminate Chinese telecom Huawei from the country’s 5G network over the next three years, according to British media, with PM Boris Johnson facing intense pressure from Washington – and his own party.
Johnson has instructed officials to devise a plan that would see Huawei completely phased out of the UK 5G network by 2023, the Telegraph reported on Friday. The move marks a sudden about-face for the PM, who previously backed the company’s involvement in the network.

During a House of Commons session on Thursday, Johnson signaled a coming change to UK policy on the Chinese firm, telling Conservative MP Richard Drax that he is “absolutely right” to be concerned about Huawei and the “buying up of UK technology by countries that ... may have ulterior motives.”

Though the UK government previously labeled Huawei a “high risk vendor” over fears it would carry out spying for Beijing, Johnson approved the company’s participation in the network earlier this year with support from British intelligence agencies. The decision was bemoaned in Washington – a vocal critic of both China and Huawei – with US officials warning the company would steal state secrets “wholesale.” US President Donald Trump also weighed in, even threatening to restrict the UK’s access to intelligence shared between the Five Eyes nations. But despite the pressure campaign, London decided to cap Huawei’s network share at 35 percent, allowing for a limited role.

Huawei, for its part, has repeatedly rejected allegations that it takes marching orders from Beijing, arguing the US seeks to squeeze it out of the international market to insulate American telecoms from competition. “What is the real fear?” the company’s chief security officer John Suffolk asked last year. “Is it because it’s China, or because [our] technology is better?”

Johnson’s plan has faced opposition much closer to home as well, with a growing number of Conservative MPs breaking ranks with the prime minister and taking up an increasingly hostile stance toward Beijing. Adopting similar rhetoric to their Republican counterparts in the US, the rebel Tories have blamed the Chinese government for the Covid-19 pandemic while calling for a complete expulsion of Huawei from the UK network.

In March, Tory MP Iain Duncan Smith introduced an amendment seeking to force Johnson’s hand on the Huawei issue, calling on the government to slash the company’s UK market share to zero by 2022. While the proposal ultimately lost out by 13 votes, Smith’s amendment was backed by 37 other Conservative lawmakers, who have since continued to push back against any involvement for the Chinese telecom – apparently with some success.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
×