US attacks Huawei and China without its own 5G strategy

According to Anthony Glees, director of the Center for Intelligence and Security Studies at Buckingham University, 5G is one of the centerpieces of China's ambition to direct technology to the world . He added that China has the capacity to "turn weapons" into technology such as 5G.

"They seek to maximize the opportunities they have to expand their influence in the world and support their global position and power," he said in a phone interview Thursday.

The United States has responded with an aggressive campaign to block Huawei on its own borders and put pressure on its traditional allies as well. Australia has banned Huawei's 5G equipment, Japan has done the same and European countries are assessing potential threats to safety.

Whatever the case may be, China is well into the 5G race.

China "has come out of the starting block," according to Bill Lawrence, a wireless lawyer from the American company Burr & Forman.

"At the end of the day, the United States is trying to get ahead of China to take the advantage," he said.