US intelligence will remain safe if UK uses Huawei 5G tech says MI5 head
By Caoimhe Toman
Date: Monday 13 Jan 2020
(Sharecast News) - US intelligence sharing will not be at risk from Chinese spying even if the UK uses Huawei's technology for development of the country's 5G network, said the head of MI5, Andrew Parker.
Parker said the relationship with the US "is, of course, of great importance to us. And, I dare say, to the US too, though that's for them to say. It is a two-way street."
In an interview with the Financial Times, Parker insisted that the Chinese manufacturer's 5G input is safe, which goes against claims from US lobbyists who have called for a ban on Huawei equipment from all 5G networks globally.
"Perhaps the thing that needs more focus and more discussion is how do we get to a future where there's a wider range of competition and a wider range of sovereign choices than defaulting to a yes or no about Chinese technology," Parker said.
Officials from America's National Security Agency are due to visit the UK in a final attempt to persuade the UK to decide against allowing Huawei in its 5G network.
A final decision needed to be taken by ministers but had repeatedly been delayed, although an announcement was expected in the next few weeks.
Speaking at a NATO summit in December, Prime Minister Boris Johnson acknowledged that the "key criterion" regarding the company was whether use of its technology would impact the UK's intelligence sharing partnerships.
"I don't want this country to be unnecessarily hostile to investment from overseas but, on the other hand, we cannot prejudice our vital national security interests," Johnson said.
Huawei had consistently denied that it was working for Chinese government to introduce spying equipment into its technology, having offered to sign a "no spy agreement" with countries adopting it.
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