The Dangerous Love Affair Between The UK Government And Huawei

Image: yahoonews/augmented by @tibettruth

Across the water in a land where its government is often heard to boast of traditions of democracy and human-rights something is very rotten.

This week a Minister of the UK authorities, Gavin Williamson, was summararilly dismissed from his post by Theresa May, the reason you may wonder? Well, there had been a leak of information to the media from a security star chamber called the National Security Council (NSC). This gathering is attended by Ministers, heads of MI6, GCHQ, MI5 and counter-terrorism police, they are all bound by what’s termed the Official Secrets Act. Which is effectively a state gagging order, violation of which is punishable as a crime.

A rapidly assembled inquiry was launched and within a couple of days the Prime Minister had laid responsibility for the disclosure at the door of Mr Williamson. He had it was claimed breached the security protocols and convention of supreme confidentiality under which the NSC operates. What’s more there was talk of him being open to prosecution. As it stands  he continues to vigorously deny such charges and has called for an inquiry into the affair.

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What would be revealed if such an investigation was allowed to delve into events which lead to the release of press reports that Theresa May was considering allowing controversial Chinese communications and tech corporation Huawei a contract in constructing a 5G network within the UK?

Image: mobilenews/augmented @tibettruth

In all probability such an examination is not likely as there may well be too many politically sensitive skeletons rattling around, which could prove damagingly embarrassing to the Prime Minister’s government and her Conservative Party. There’s already an indication that the matter is being slammed down with yesterday’s announcement by the Metropolitan Police that the disclosure did not constitute a criminal offence, Nor it was claimed did the information released breach the Official Secrets Act.

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“I am satisfied that what was disclosed did not contain information that would breach the Official Secrets Act,” said Neil Basu, head of the Met’s specialist operations.  “I have considered all the information available to me  and I have taken legal advice. I am satisfied that the disclosure did not amount to a criminal offence either under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) or misconduct in a public office. No crime has been committed  and this is not a matter for the police.” (Source: The Guardian 5/4/2019)

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This statement raises an interesting possible legal defense for future whistle-blowers who could argue that it‘s not the action itself which defines if the OSA has been breached but the nature of information. From the government‘s perspective  it does something more important, eliminates the risk of exposure within a court, it also returns complete control to them. Who can now bury this controversy deeply away from what could be dangerous further scrutiny. Before exploring further some interesting connections between the UK government, former Ministers and officials with Huawei  let‘s change the focus.

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While the UK government struggles to justify it’s reported approval of allowing Huawei to engineer the 5G network across Britain, or reassure its allies that any potential security risk can be contained the Chinese corporation is a key facilitator in the oppression of the Tibetan people. Not that the political establishment in London extends any substantial concern towards the plight of Tibet, especially when engaged in lucrative commercial partnerships with Chinese corporations!

Yet if they bothered to carefully assess the role of Huawei in occupied Tibet they would soon realize that its insistence on being an independent business, not influenced or constrained by China’s regime is palpable nonsense. Like all major corporations within China Huawei is deeply and actively enmeshed with the political machinery of the Chinese state, without the sanction of the authorities it would not exist. It cannot operate without the approval of Xi Jinping and his regime. We are not though talking of a  well intentioned company that happens to be under the control of China’s totalitarian tyranny, Huawei is an engaged player, fully subscribed to the extreme political ideology which aims to expand Chinese political, military and national interests.

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This is shown by its suffocating presence in Tibet where it has been constructing a range of communication and security networks, the purpose of which is to monitor Tibetans, intruding into every aspect of their daily living. Establishing an extensive CCTV coverage, creating facial recognition systems and security barriers at Tibetan monasteries and other public locations. Working in collusion with other Chinese communication providers  it has engineered a surveillance network which monitors social-media and telephone systems to identity any dissent against China’s regime.

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In this regard it is partnering in the repressive assault against Tibetan cultural and national identity, a collaboration which should be of serious concern to governments, including of that of the United Kingdom, which claim to place the highest value upon human rights and freedoms. Yet  it‘s interest is directed towards strengthening ties with Huawei, even to the extent of jeopardizing security alliances with the USA and other countries.

The prospect of trade and the significant profits which flow from collaborating with the Chinese technology giant are presented as being in the interest of the nation, enabling economic and performance benefits fron the latest network platform. Such claims, of course, are open to debate and should be measured against handing over control of communications infrastructure to an arm of the Chinese state.

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While the advantages of 5G are promoted as offering a digital revolution such technology also affords a totalitarian state  disturbing levels of increased social control and surveillance. That is already happening within China, facilitated by Huawei, while there are now three 5G base-stations operating inside occupied Tibet. One, at the Lhasa Post and Telecommunications School, the other two are installed at the office of the Tibet Post Group in Lhasa, and in China Mobile’s Tibet branch building.

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It‘s said that power corrupts, in reality it probably reveals an inherent capacity for venality, is such self-interest at the heart of this controversy? Have prominent figures linked to the UK Government and Conservative Party profited from Huawei? Was it coincidental that fairly senior people associated with former Prime Minister David Cameron’s administration were offered and accepted prominent executive positions onto the board of Huawei UK? Clearly finance has dominated the scene since Huawei promised in 2012 that it would be investing £1.3 billion in the British economy.!

Whatever the facts, which look set to be confined indefinitely to the archives, in defending its partnership with Huawei and risking the integrity of its communications network and national security the UK authorities are collaborating with a corporation which is enabling the violent oppression and 24/7 surveillance of the Tibetan people!