China continues criticism of UK over Huawei ban

China hit back again at the UK over the "discriminatory" decision to bar Huawei from the country's 5G network as the controversy between the two countries ran on.

The UK government on Tuesday reversed a decision to use the Chinese company's technology in the network and ordered its equipment to be removed by the end of 2027.

On Thursday China's commerce ministry said the move was discriminatory and said it would take measures needed to defend the legal rights of Chinese companies, Reuters reported. The ministry said the ban had severely damaged China's confidence about investing in the UK.

The ministry's remarks were among a series of criticisms made by China about the UK's move, ordered on Tuesday by Prime Minister Boris Johnson under pressure from the US and his own backbench MPs. The reversal showed the UK's 5G network caught in an increasingly tense relationship between Beijing and the Trump administration in a US election year.

A spokesman for China's foreign ministry said the UK had lost its independence over Huawei and that the British government should make responsible decisions in line with its long-term interests. Hua Chunying made the comment at a daily media briefing also reported by Reuters.

On Wednesday China's ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiamoming, said the UK had "simply dumped" Huawei to Beijing's annoyance.

“The way you are treating Huawei is being followed very closely by other Chinese businesses, and it will be very difficult for other businesses to have the confidence to have more investment,” he said.

In 2019, the Trump administration warned allies around the world of its concerns that Huawei could use its capabilities to spy for the Chinese government. The UK went ahead with commissioning Huawei but the government said a US ban on the company using chips based on American designs changed the picture. Huawei has repeatedly denied claims that it is a security threat.