Over the next five years, Germany will remove components from Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE from its 5G wireless network, a move likely to worsen already strained ties with the world’s second-largest economy and further strain relations with Germany.

According to the German Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), components from Chinese technology companies such as Huawei and ZTE will no longer be allowed to be used in the construction of the German industry’s next-generation 5G mobile networks from the end of 2026.

To comply with this decision, the BMI has decided that all existing components must be replaced by 2029 at the latest.

The German government considers 5G networks as critical infrastructure and believes they will play an important role in the energy, transport, healthcare and finance sectors in the coming years.

Huawei told CNN there is no evidence or scenario that explicitly shows the company’s technology poses security risks.

A statement from the Chinese embassy in Germany said it was committed to taking all “necessary measures” to protect the interests of Chinese companies in Germany.

Under the ban, Chinese technology companies are increasingly being viewed with suspicion over their perceived close ties to the Beijing government as a result of their increasing investments.

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