Senior Australian MPs have cancelled a planned trip to the UK amid escalating tensions over Huawei's role in building Britain's 5G network. Lawmakers from the intelligence and security committee had been expected to travel to the UK next month, but the trip has been postponed following reports of a diplomatic rift.
The decision comes after a reported complaint from the UK over leaked details of a high-level meeting where Huawei was discussed. Australia has banned the Chinese telecoms giant from its 5G network, while the UK last month allowed Huawei partial access, excluding it from sensitive core parts.
During UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab's recent visit to Australia, details of a meeting with the intelligence committee were leaked to the Sydney Morning Herald. The report said an MP rebuked Mr Raab over Britain's decision, expressing Australia's disappointment. The UK High Commissioner to Australia, Vicki Treadell, reportedly lodged a formal complaint over the leak.
Australia's parliament said the trip was delayed because the UK's counterpart committee had yet to be appointed after December's election. However, Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg insisted the relationship with the UK "couldn't be stronger".
The row comes amid ongoing US pressure against Huawei, with Defence Secretary Mark Esper warning at a security conference that NATO alliances could be jeopardised if European partners use Huawei technology. China's ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, dismissed the opposition as a "witch-hunt".
