UK ban on Huawei in 5G network groundless, says Chinese ambassador

Beijing warns that removal of telecoms firm from UK network by 2027 will undermine trust

The British government's decision to ban the use of Huawei in its 5G network is groundless and indicative of the UK's junior status in its alliance with the US, Beijing has said as it vowed to take measures to protect the interests of Chinese companies.

Listening to all the rhetoric it was clear the UK had succumbed to pressure from China hawks and bashers," said Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese ambassador to the UK. We are not asking you to take sides between China and the US. We are just asking you to take the right side of the argument. Britain can only be Great Britain when it has an independent foreign policy."