Britain, Indonesia boost technology ties to counter China’s dominance

Alluding to China, Britain says the partnership with Indonesia is to allow the free world to shape “technology standards”.

News Agency of Nigeria • November 11, 2021

British Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss

Britain and Indonesia are drawing a roadmap for cooperation in next-generation technologies including 6G internet.

British Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss said on Thursday that it was imperative that the “free world’’ set technical standards.

“We need to make sure that technology standards are shaped by the free world,’’ Truss told a news conference after talks with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Jakarta.

She was alluding to China’s ambitions to write global standards for the next generation of technology under the so-called Standard 2035 project.

“We want to work together with Indonesia in areas like cyber and also the next generation of technologies, whether that’s 5G, 6G, or indeed areas like artificial intelligence and quantum,’’ she added.

Under Standards 2035 unveiled last year, China outlined a blueprint for state-owned and leading technology companies to set standards for emerging technologies.

The United States and Britain consider the plan to be a threat to Western dominance of global technology markets.

(dpa/NAN)

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