ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attacked long-standing ally Britain over its attitude towards China and Huawei on Wednesday (May 8), saying it could impede Washington's sharing of intelligence with London.

The United States has told allies not to use Huawei's technology to build new 5G networks because of fears it could be a vehicle for Chinese spying, an accusation the firm has denied, but Britain has indicated it would allow it a restricted role.

Pompeo questioned Prime Minister Theresa May's government attitude towards Beijing and goaded London by saying that the late former British leader Margaret Thatcher, who was known as the Iron Lady, would have taken a firmer line with China.

Pompeo said the West faced the re-emergence of great power competition from China, Russia, and Iran.

Pompeo said China steals sensitive intellectual property and sensitive commercial data in Europe, Asia, and the U.S., and singled out Huawei.