China pitches BRICS 5G base as India mulls Huawei ban

With govt. considering excluding Huawei from country’s network, New Delhi may face a tricky choice

India is unlikely to allow Chinese participation in 5G, particularly in the wake of recent moves to tighten investment from China and to ban 59 Chinese apps, citing national security concerns.

China has made a proposal to create what it has termed a BRICS innovation base to take forward 5G and Artificial Intelligence (AI) cooperation among the five countries, as their Industry Ministers met virtually on Monday.

China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology Xiao Yaqing "urged fellow nations, including India, to boost cooperation in areas including 5G and AI”, Chinese media reported, adding that China was "actively considering the establishment of a BRICS innovation base in China, in order to strengthen practical cooperation with the BRICS”.

The move could pose an awkward question for India, which is the only country in the grouping that is leaning towards excluding Chinese participation in the roll-out of India’s 5G network.

Russia has said it would work together with China on 5G, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying this month they were open to working with Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei, which has been largely banned by the United States.

In South Africa, Huawei is providing services to three of its telecom operators in the roll-out of their 5G networks. Brazil has allowed participation in trials but yet to take a final call, although Vice President Hamilton Mourao indicated this month they would likely allow Huawei considering that “more than a third of Brazil's 4G network [is run] by operators who use Huawei equipment”.

“Huawei has capacity above its competitors and we do not yet see U.S. companies capable of defeating international competition,” he said.

India is unlikely to allow Chinese participation in 5G, particularly in the wake of recent moves to tighten investment from China and to ban 59 Chinese apps , citing national security concerns. The ban, which followed the June 15 clash in Galwan Valley , cited a “threat to the sovereignty and integrity of India” posed by the Chinese apps. Indian intelligence assessments have also expressed concerns on the possible direct or indirect links of several Chinese companies, including Huawei, with the Chinese military.