Huawei Vice President Victor Zhang said it would take months to
establish the impact of the U.S. measures announced in May,
which aim to cripple the firm's ability to source the advanced
microchips needed to make its telecoms equipment.
"These restrictions actually haven't had an impact on Huawei's
capability to supply to the UK's 5G and fibre solution at this
moment," Zhang told reporters on a call. "We need to talk about
the long term impact, it takes time, it takes months."
Britain granted Huawei a limited role in its future 5G networks
in January, but ministers have since said the U.S. sanctions
could have a significant impact on its ability to securely
supply crucial pieces of networking equipment.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has come under pressure from
the United States and lawmakers in his own party to ban Huawei
over security concerns, is expected to make a decision on
whether to further restrict the company by the end of the month.
Zhang said British officials should think carefully before
making what he called a "critical long-term decision".
"We believe it is important to wait until all the facts and
implications are known," he said. "Now is not the time to be
hasty in making such a crucial decision about Huawei."
British relations with China have already been strained by
Beijing's decision to approve a new national security law in
Hong Kong. China's ambassador to London, Liu Xiaoming, warned
this week that getting rid of Huawei would send a "very bad
message" to Chinese business.
(Reporting by Jack Stubbs and Kate Holton; editing by Jason
Neely and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
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