[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Despite pressure from the United States, the UK, which had planned to allow the Chinese electronic equipment company Huawei in a limited way, has changed its stance. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered to exclude Huawei from the 5th generation mobile communication (5G) construction project as soon as possible.
According to British media reports on the 22nd (local time), Prime Minister Johnson instructed to devise a plan to eliminate any possibility of China's involvement in the UK's infrastructure construction projects in light of the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
Earlier, despite the US demands, the UK had decided in January this year to exclude Huawei from core sectors but allow Huawei equipment in non-core sectors with a market share not exceeding 35%. This policy caused considerable waves given the alliance between the US and the UK. However, due to COVID-19, the UK reversed this approach.
Prime Minister Johnson expressed this position during communications regarding the G7 summit to be held from July 10 to 13 at Camp David, hosted by US President Donald Trump.
According to reports, the UK has assigned the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Trade to lead a project to completely exclude Huawei equipment from the 5G infrastructure construction, and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is to receive direct reports from the Deputy Permanent Secretary.
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