UK defense chief fired over Huawei leaks

Williamson vehemently denies security breach, calling May's decision politically motivated

Gavin Williamson has been fired from his position as British defense secretary following an investigation into a security meeting from which classified discussions about Chinese telecommunications company Huawei were leaked to the media.

Last week, Williamson, Prime Minister Theresa May and other members of the National Security Council, or NSC, met to determine if Huawei would be allowed to participate in building 5G infrastructure in the United Kingdom.

Before any formal announcement was made, The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that the NSC had given Huawei the green light, triggering an investigation into how the information had got out.

On Wednesday evening, Downing Street released a statement, saying May had "lost confidence" in Williamson's ability to serve as a member of her Cabinet.

"The Prime Minister's decision has been informed by his conduct surrounding an investigation into the circumstances of the unauthorized disclosure of information from a meeting of the National Security Council," the statement said.

May thanked NSC members for their "full cooperation and candor" during the investigation and said she now "considers the matter closed".

"This is an extremely serious matter, and a deeply disappointing one," May said in a letter to Williamson. "In our meeting this evening, I put to you the latest information from the investigation, which provides compelling evidence suggesting your responsibility for the unauthorized disclosure. No other credible version of events to explain this leak has been identified."

The government has appointed Penny Mordaunt as new defense secretary. She was previously the international development secretary.

Responding to May's letter, Williamson denied that a leak originated from his department.

"I emphatically believe this was not the case. I strenuously deny that I was in any way involved in this leak and I am confident that a thorough and formal inquiry would have vindicated my position," he wrote in a letter.

In an interview with Sky News, Williamson intimated that May's decision was politically motivated.

"I have been completely and utterly screwed. When I spoke to the prime minister, she said I could either resign or be sacked, I said I would not resign because I did not leak this information, so she sacked me. The prime minister needs to show she is strong and bold, this is a useful way of doing that.... It is politics."

Williamson took up the post in 2017. He caused controversy on several occasions for using strong, combative rhetoric against Russia, China, and opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, among other targets.

In February, Williamson gave a speech in which he threatened to deploy a warship in the Pacific.

In a speech outlining the UK military's future strategy, he said the aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, would be sent to the Pacific and the UK was prepared to use "lethal" force to deter countries that "flout international law". His remarks were seen as a direct threat to China in the South China Sea.

Before that, in December, Williamson said he had "very deep concerns" about Huawei building network infrastructure in the UK, and accused China of acting "sometimes in a malign way".

The United States has accused Huawei of spying on behalf of China, although it has not provided any evidence to support the claim. Both Australia and New Zealand have joined the US in boycotting the use of Huawei kit in 5G networks.

On Monday, Robert Strayer, a deputy assistant secretary at the US state department who has led anti-Huawei lobbying, implied that the US would evaluate its intelligence sharing procedures if the UK does not ban Huawei.

In response to Strayer's comments, Downing Street said it had noted US concerns.

Last week, Margot James, UK digital minister, said that the government was right to proceed with recommendations supplied by the UK National Cyber Security Centre, which has found no evidence to support the US claim that Huawei is involved in digital espionage.

angus@mail.chinadailyuk.com

(China Daily Global 05/03/2019 page4)