UK MPs fume after Huawei posts open letter stating: 'Disrupting our involvement in the 5G rollout would do Britain a disservice'

Conservative politicos including IDS voice anger over 'untimely special pleading'

An open letter from Huawei about the UK's 5G strategy in light of COVID-19 has provoked outrage among several key politicians in the country's ruling Conservative Party, who have denounced it as "hubristic" and "arrogant".

The letter, penned by Huawei VP Victor Zhang, urges the UK to avoid taking any steps that would remove Huawei from the nation's telecommunications infrastructure, describing any such move as a "disservice".

"During this pandemic our engineers – designated 'essential' workers – are striving around the clock to keep Britain connected," Zhang wrote.

"We have built trust in our UK business over 20 years by helping our customers – the mobile network operators – provide consumers with affordable, reliable calls and data. Despite this, there has been groundless criticism from some about Huawei's involvement in the UK's 5G rollout. And there are those who choose to continue to attack us without presenting any evidence. Disrupting our involvement in the 5G rollout would do Britain a disservice."

The letter, which was released shortly after the discharge of Boris Johnson from hospital, evoked a furious response from several Tory party grandees, including one-time leader (and current MP for the London suburban district of Chingford) Iain Duncan Smith, who accused Huawei of using the current pandemic as an opportunity to "promote Huawei's interests in the UK".

Zhang's letter in full

In these unprecedented times, it is only by working together and strictly following the Government's advice, will we beat a pandemic that threatens human and economic catastrophe.

At Huawei we are focused on keeping Britain connected – the biggest contribution we can make to the UK's national effort against coronavirus.

Since COVID-19 first hit the UK, data usage has soared by 50% or more. Homes have become offices, friends and families now stay connected through video, and students access lessons on-line. This has placed significant pressure on telecoms systems.

That's why reliable mobile and broadband networks are crucial. During this pandemic our engineers – designated "essential" workers – are striving around the clock to keep Britain connected. We're working with the likes of Vodafone, BT, EE and Three to keep businesses online and loved ones in touch. To support the effort, we've set up three new warehouses and are redistributing key spare parts around the country to ensure continuity of supply.

But while those in towns and cities are able to get online easily, not everyone has fast and reliable internet access. This crisis has highlighted how many people, particularly those living in rural communities, remain stuck in a digital slow lane. We are helping to turn that around so that no one is left without a decent connection. Our objective is the same as the UK Government's – secure and resilient "GigaBit broadband" networks.

We have built trust in our UK business over 20 years by helping our customers – the mobile network operators – provide consumers with affordable, reliable calls and data. Despite this, there has been groundless criticism from some about Huawei's involvement in the UK's 5G rollout. And there are those who choose to continue to attack us without presenting any evidence. Disrupting our involvement in the 5G rollout would do Britain a disservice.

In my experience the UK has always chosen to work together with the frontrunners in any field, whether they come from the US, China or Europe. Huawei's technology is among most advanced in this field and we want to use it to bring people together wherever they are and whoever they are.

When we emerge from this crisis, we look forward to continuing to play our role as a key partner in improving the networks, benefiting the economy and ultimately everyone in the UK, ending the postcode lottery of good connectivity.

Right now, by keeping Britain online, we are able to play our part in helping the country through this difficult period.

I sincerely hope you and your families keep safe and well. It is only by working together that we can overcome this global pandemic.

He added the UK should "ignore Huawei's untimely special pleading" and "stop kowtowing" to China.

Retired Colonel Richard Kemp, who has previously blogged for Conservative Home, said Huawei presents a threat to UK national security, and the removal of the company's equipment from UK networks should be "an early stage of the reset of our relations with China".

This letter is likely indicative of anxieties deep within Huawei about the company's infrastructure prospects in the UK. In January, it received a reprieve of sorts when the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) advanced rules that would allow its involvement in non-core aspects of Britain's 5G network.

The government quickly received pushback from the backbenches of the Tory party, with Duncan Smith and David Davis offering an amendment to the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill that would have prohibited networks from purchasing equipment from high-risk vendors like Huawei and ZTE. This amendment was narrowly defeated by 306 votes to 282.

Across the Atlantic, both the US president and a bipartisan coalition of senators and congressmen have lobbied for the UK government to reverse its stance on Huawei, with the future of transatlantic relations and a potential post-Brexit trade deal in the balance.

On a related note...

Huawei's woes come during a general atmosphere of concern about China's involvement in the technology sector. Closer to home, there's Imagination Technologies, the Hertfordshire-based chip maker owned by China's Canyon Bridge Capital Partners since 2017.

Canyon Ridge, which acquired Imagination during a period of turmoil prompted by the loss of primary customer Apple, is itself owned by a state-owned holding company called China Reforms Holdings.

Last week, it emerged the owners were planning to radically shake up the Imagination's board of directors, prompting the resignation of Steve Evans, chief product officer, and John Rayfield, chief technology officer.

This planned reshuffle has been delayed, after Parliament summoned the firm's leadership to answer questions about Imagination's future, and any potential to repatriate sensitive UK-built intellectual property to China.

Imagination has traditionally built chips for the entertainment sector, particularly those designed to handle VR and graphical tasks. Other parts of its portfolio include silicon designed to identify potential security risks, such as network vulnerabilities. ®