Washington's Huawei claims specious

Mobile connectivity service providers in the United Kingdom have reportedly sent a joint letter to UK Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill, asking the government for an urgent meeting because they are concerned about the uncertainty over government approval of Huawei's 5G technology and equipment. China Daily writer Zhang Zhouxiang comments:

The companies said the uncertainty makes them unable to invest in their infrastructure and the UK risks losing its leading position in mobile networks worldwide.

Their worries are not unreasonable. Construction of 5G networks is one of the hottest technological issues globally, and the later a country starts building its 5G networks, the more it will lag behind in the global race. If the UK government continues delaying making decisions about Huawei, the country's enterprises might have to bear heavy losses.

And the reason for the delay is obvious: The United States has been putting pressure on it. Everywhere he goes US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been trying to persuade US allies and friends not to use Huawei because of "security concerns", as if it was not the US that launched the Prism Project and spied on its allies and friends alike.

Actually, the delay itself shows that the UK government has realized the advantages of working with Huawei and other Chinese telecom companies. The UK is caught in a dilemma. It usually follows the US lead without a murmur, but this time, as its hesitating shows, its true interests lie in going against the US instructions. This dilemma is exacerbated by the fact that it desperately hopes for a favorable trade deal with the US after it exits the European Union.

In May, Huawei devices were used for the first 5G live-streaming in the UK. The development once again proves that businesspeople have a sharper sense of smell than politicians, and they know best where their interests are.

Latest updates show that a UK government spokesperson said it would announce its review soon. Maybe the following data can help it in the decision-making process: By June 6, Huawei had 46 commercial contracts for 5G networks in 30 countries worldwide, of which some are US allies.

Hopefully, the UK government will make the right choice, not for China or Huawei, but for the 66 million people in the UK.