The advent of 5G networks won't just be another step in technology's steady advancement, but a huge leap forward in how we communicate with each other. The US dominance in advanced technologies is eroding fast, and China is now bent on an all-out effort to become the world leader in everything from AI to quantum computing, writes Nigel Inkster. 

If there ever was a “Golden Era” in Sino-UK relations, the UK government’s announcement on 14 July 2020 that it would exclude the Chinese telecommunication national champion Huawei from the UK’s 5G network brought it to an end. Huawei was not the only reason that Sino-UK relations have deteriorated.  China’s growing assertiveness over the past decade has forced many liberal democracies to reappraise their relations with a country that seems determined to challenge the US-led world order that has formed the bedrock of international relations for the past seventy years. And specific issues including China’s initial delays and cover-up in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic, its oppression of the Uighurs in Xinjiang and its imposition of a draconian national security law in Hong Kong have further exacerbated tensions. The Chinese government has reacted badly to the Huawei decision claiming that it undermines trust in the UK as a commercial partner and it has threatened unspecified consequences. So far these have not materialised but UK companies seeking to do business in and with China may well find the climate less welcoming.