File photo taken on Jan. 28, 2020 shows a Huawei 5G mobile phone testing speed in Huawei 5G Innovation and Experience Center in London, Britain. Huawei is "focused on keeping Britain connected" and that is "the biggest contribution we can make" to its national effort against the COVID-19 pandemic, said Huawei's Vice President Victor Zhang in an open letter released on April 13, 2020. Photo:Xinhua

Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei said on Tuesday that media reports citing unnamed sources claiming the UK plans to reduce Huawei's role in the construction of the country's 5G mobile networks "do not make sense."

The comments followed reports by the Telegraph on Friday saying British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to reduce the role of Huawei in the UK's 5G network in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, and Johnson has instructed officials to draft plans that would reduce Huawei's involvement in building the UK's 5G phone network to zero by 2023.

Victor Zhang, Huawei's vice president, said in a statement sent to the Global Times, "We've seen the reports from unnamed sources which simply don't make sense. The government decided in January to approve our part in the 5G rollout, because the UK needs the best possible technologies, more choices, innovation and more suppliers, all of which means more secure and more resilient networks."

The UK decided in January to let Huawei continue its part in the country's 5G networks, but with restrictions - the company is excluded from the sensitive "core" parts of the country's 5G networks, despite pressure from the US to crack down on the Chinese firm.

Huawei has operated in the UK for 20 years. "Our priority has been to help mobile and broadband companies keep the UK connected, which in this current health crisis has been more vital than ever. This is our proven track record," Zhang said.

If the reported move is true, kicking out Huawei - the world's leading 5G solution provider - from the UK's networks will considerably increase the financial burden on the country's service providers and delay 5G deployment, industry analysts said.