LONDON, April 21 (Reuters) - Britain's government made a
firm decision to allow China's Huawei to have a role in building
the country's 5G phone network and as far as the foreign
ministry's top official understands it is not being reopened, he
said on Tuesday.
Britain decided in January to allow Huawei into what the
government said were non-sensitive parts of its 5G network,
capping its involvement at 35%.
Asked whether he would advise the foreign minister to try to
change the government's position on Huawei, Simon McDonald,
permanent under secretary and head of the diplomatic service at
the foreign ministry, told lawmakers: "As you know ... the
government decided to proceed with an investment but with very
strict conditions ... As far as I know that ... is a firm
decision and is not being reopened."
"China is a very important partner of the United Kingdom and
I think it's compatible to proceed with the Huawei decision and
have the strategically independent relationship that I have been
talking about."
(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper)