Former Defence boss fears China 'Cold War'

Former national security chief Dennis Richardson has sounded fears of a technological cold war between China and the West.

Former Defence secretary Dennis Richardson has warned of a "technological Cold War" between China and the West.

Mr Richardson said tensions over the emergence of rival communication networks could deny Australia access to available technologies.

"There is a risk that we are going to move into a technological Cold War. What you see happening is the Chinese and Huawei on the one hand and the US on the other," he told The Australian on Monday.