China tells UK to resist pressure over Huawei 5G fears if it wants to protect country's 'long-term development'

Beijing ambassador tells government to make ‘independent decision’ after move to involve telecommunications firm in 5G network sparks criticism

China’s ambassador to the UK has urged the government to ignore external pressure over the decision to allow Huawei to build key parts of Britain’s 5G network.

The US and Australia have said the telecommunications firm is a security risk because of its ties to the Chinese state and have blocked its involvement in their own networks.

But writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Beijing’s ambassador to London, Liu Xiaoming, urged the UK to make the “right decision independently” over the suppliers for the 5G network.

Huawei is at the centre of a Whitehall leak inquiry after details emerged of a National Security Council (NSC) meeting in which Theresa May was said to have given the green light for the firm to be involved in building the 5G system.

Some senior cabinet ministers, now suspected of leaking the decision, were reportedly opposed to the move.

Defending the firm, Mr Liu wrote: “Countries of global influence, like the UK, make decisions independently and in accordance with their national interests.”

He added: “When it comes to the establishment of the new 5G network, the UK is in the position to do the same again by resisting pressure, working to avoid interruptions and making the right decision independently based on its national interests and in line with its need for long-term development.”

Mr Liu urged the UK to resist “protectionism”, and added: “The last thing China expects from a truly open and fair ‘global Britain’ is a playing field that is not level.”

He also said the security concerns around the 5G network were “understandable” due to the technology being new and “not perfect”.

“The risks should be taken seriously but risks must not be allowed to incite fear. They can be managed, provided countries and companies work together,” he wrote.

“Huawei has had a good track record on security over the years, having taken the initiative to invest in a cyber security evaluation centre which employs an all-British monitoring team.

“The company has been working hard to improve its technology and to enhance the security and reliability of its equipment.”

Meanwhile, six conservative MPs including Bob Seely, a member of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, have written to culture secretary Jeremy Wright about their concerns over Huawei.

The letter, seen by The Sunday Times, said: “Having China anywhere near our communications systems poses structural risks about the level of Chinese influence in our society.

“Chinese law demands that Chinese firms work with the Chinese secret services.”

This week, members of the cabinet are expected to be summoned for interviews about the leak as part of the formal inquiry headed by Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary and national security adviser.

Ministers and aides were reportedly issued questionnaires requiring them to explain where they were in the hours following Tuesday’s NSC meeting.

They were also reportedly asked to provide details of all mobile phones in their possession and whether they spoke to the Telegraph, which published the original report about the Huawei decision.

Much of the attention has focused on five ministers who were said to have voiced objections to the decision: Sajid Javid, Jeremy Hunt, Gavin Williamson, Penny Mordaunt and Liam Fox.

Additional reporting by PA