Experts warn the University of Edinburgh over Huawei partnership

Scottish academics have been warned by experts that they may be “supping with the devil” by helping Chinese telecoms company Huawei connect surgical robots and emergency services devices to the internet.

The university, who has been in partnership with the Chinese company since 2017, are assisting the launch of new 5G data networks through physical technology. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the partnership and the prospect of attracting more Chinese investment into Scotland.

In recent months, Huawei has been subjected to criticism due to fears that the company is being utilised by the Chinese government for espionage.

This was confirmed by a British intelligence source, who told The Times that the company had received funding from the People’s Liberation Army, China’s national security commission and a third branch of the state intelligence network.

Charles Kriel, an associate fellow in war studies at King’s College London (KCL), advised Edinburgh to “exercise extraordinary due diligence”.

He said: “Chinese state investment in these companies is a huge issue…I would worry a lot about the collection of biodata if we’re talking about emergency and medical services, so this is a huge concern.”

The University of Surrey’s vice-chancellor, Professor Max Lu, argued instead that universities should “not be dictated” by geopolitics.

Professor Lu, whose university also has ties with the Chinese firm, said that unless there is sufficient evidence to support the claim of espionage, universities should continue working with the company.

“If there is a large body of evidence of activities of espionage or compromising national security, the government will make a decision,” he stated.

I would worry a lot about the collection of biodata if we’re talking about emergency and medical services, so this is a huge concern

– Charles Kriel

He added that an institutional ban on working with Huawei would counter academic freedom and the aim of universities to maintain neutrality.

“The mission of universities is to change society, change lives and make the world a better place,” he explained. “If you’re going to change your research agenda according to geopolitics, you will not be able to make a sustained contribution to society, and you will become an instrument of politics.”

Several leading research universities including the University of Oxford have recently terminated their partnerships with Huawei amid uncertainty over security risks.

The telecoms company has since reiterated that it has no links to the government and is fully independent. They said: “Huawei is a private company, owned solely by our employees. No third parties, including the Chinese government, hold any shares in the company.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael, an open critic of China’s growing influence in the UK, told The Times that Edinburgh should nevertheless be careful and aware of the potential risks.

“Cyber warfare is the fastest growing geopolitical concern and Huawei has an unfortunate knack for finding itself at the centre of these concerns,” he said. “They say that you need a long-handled spoon to sup with the devil. Edinburgh University should be investing in new cutlery.”

The institution has defended the partnership and said that it had “undergone a rigorous process of due diligence and is the result of long-term collaboration between experts at the University of Edinburgh and Huawei”.

On 2 May, Gavin Williamson was removed from his role as Defence Secretary after he was accused of leaking confidential plans to Huawei, in order to let the telecoms company build the UK’s 5G network.

In response, Mr Williamson described himself as a victim of a “vendetta” and a “kangaroo court”, and “swore on his children’s lives” that the accusations were false.