![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/2.28024499.jpg\")
A group of senior Conservatives in the UK has written to Tory MPs expressing concerns over the British government\u2019s controversial move to allow Chinese tech giant Huawei a role in the UK\u2019s 5G network.<\/p>\nA group of senior Conservatives in the UK has written to Tory MPs expressing concerns over the British government\u2019s controversial move to allow Chinese tech giant Huawei a role in the UK\u2019s 5G network.<\/p>\n
Ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who is among four former Cabinet ministers involved in the letter, said there was cross-party concern on the issue.<\/p>\n
It comes as US Vice President Mike Pence indicated the decision by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to allow Huawei a limited role in 5G roll-out could jeopardize a post-Brexit trade deal between Britain and America.<\/p>\n
The letter from, among others, Duncan Smith, Owen Paterson, David Davis and Damian Green states some MPs were \u201cworking to find a better solution\u201d to the 5G issue.<\/p>\n
The senior Tories want \u201chigh-risk\u201d vendors to be ruled out immediately, or phased out over time.<\/p>\n
Duncan Smith told BBC Radio 4\u2019s Today program: \u201cThere is real concern across the floor of the House. I think there is a lot of disquiet over this.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThe truth is if they are not a trusted vendor, if, as the Foreign Secretary said at the despatch box, that China is considered to be an aggressor in these matters, they are constantly attacking our systems alongside Russia \u2013 they claim that Russia is an aggressor, but they won\u2019t have anything to do with Russian technology \u2013 then surely the same principle must apply to China.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd, I think, therefore, we need to get the Government to look to get the involvement of Huawei, not to 35%, but to zero.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are turning out to be the mugs in this game.\u201d<\/p>\n
The British government has said Huawei would be limited to involvement in 35% of the network and kept away from sensitive areas.<\/p>\n
Pressed on whether the Huawei decision could be a deal-breaker in Brexit trade talks, Mr Pence told CNBC: \u201cWe\u2019ll see. We\u2019ll see if it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Referring to the UK move to allow Huawei limited participation in the 5G rollout, Mr Pence said: \u201cWe are profoundly disappointed because, look, when I went at the president\u2019s direction in September I met with Prime Minister Johnson and I told him the moment the UK is out of Brexit we were willing to begin to negotiate a free trade arrangement with the UK.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we just don\u2019t believe that utilizing the assets, the technology of Huawei is consistent with the security or privacy interests of the UK, of the United States, and it remains a real issue between our two countries.\u201d<\/p>\n
The remarks came after it was reported that US President Donald Trump blasted Boris Johnson with \u201capoplectic\u201d rage during a heated phone call regarding the 5G move.<\/p>\n