Peter Beyer, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, underscored the importance of setting the highest security standards for the new 5G infrastructure which is essential for new technology developments such as self-driving cars.

"There are justified doubts about whether a company that is close to the Chinese government can credibly achieve these security standards, which are imperative for such highly sensitive applications," he said in a statement. "It is self-evident that we will reach all decisions independently and responsibly in line with our interests, also vis a vis our partners."

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Tassilo Hummel)