Latest news with #CGN
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UK to pump £14b into new nuclear plant on path to net zero
The UK government Tuesday said it will invest billions of pounds in the new Sizewell C nuclear power plant as it strives to meet its net zero and energy security targets. The £14.2 billion ($19 billion) investment will end "years of delay and uncertainty", the UK Treasury said in a press release, adding it would unlock a "golden age" of nuclear to "boost the UK's energy security". The UK is the majority shareholder in the plant being built in eastern England, after Chinese company CGN left the project and the other partner, French energy giant EDF, scaled back its involvement. The plant, which comprises two EPR nuclear reactors each with 1.6 gigawatts capacity, could cost a whopping total of £20-30 billion to build. The sum could be even higher, according to some estimates which are disputed by the government and EDF, and it is not expected to start generating electricity until 2035. "The government's decision to move ahead with Sizewell C is fantastic news for Britain, its energy security and economic growth," EDF Energy CEO Simone Rossi said. The latest injection is part of budget announcements by Britain's finance minister Rachel Reeves, who is due to detail her spending and investment priorities for the coming years on Wednesday, with defence and health as key areas. The UK is now the majority shareholder in Sizewell C, EDF said in January. With a fleet of ageing nuclear power stations managed by the French energy company, the UK has refocused on shoring up nuclear power since the start of the war in Ukraine, in the name of energy security. The Labour government, which took over from the Conservatives in July, is following the same line, and says it wants to implement "the biggest nuclear rollout program for a generation". It also announced on Tuesday in its press release "record investment" in research and development into nuclear fusion of more than £2.5 billion over five years. But the announcement has been met with anger by some local residents worried about the impact of the new plant on the local town of Leiston in Suffolk. Nearby is also the single water pressurised Sizewell B nuclear power station which is currently is due to close in 2035, and Sizewell A which is in the process of being decommissioned.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
UK to pump £14 bn into new nuclear plant on path to net zero
LONDON: The UK government Tuesday said it will invest billions of pounds in the new Sizewell C nuclear power plant as it strives to meet its net zero and energy security targets. The £14.2 billion ($19 billion) investment will end 'years of delay and uncertainty', the UK Treasury said in a press release, adding it would unlock a 'golden age' of nuclear to 'boost the UK's energy security'. The UK is the majority shareholder in the plant being built in eastern England, after Chinese company CGN left the project and the other partner, French energy giant EDF, scaled back its involvement. The plant, which comprises two EPR nuclear reactors each with 1.6 gigawatts capacity, could cost a whopping total of £20-30 billion to build. The sum could be even higher, according to some estimates which are disputed by the government and EDF, and it is not expected to start generating electricity until 2035. 'The government's decision to move ahead with Sizewell C is fantastic news for Britain, its energy security and economic growth,' EDF Energy CEO Simone Rossi said. The latest injection is part of budget announcements by Britain's finance minister Rachel Reeves, who is due to detail her spending and investment priorities for the coming years on Wednesday, with defence and health as key areas. The UK is now the majority shareholder in Sizewell C, EDF said in January. With a fleet of ageing nuclear power stations managed by the French energy company, the UK has refocused on shoring up nuclear power since the start of the war in Ukraine, in the name of energy security. The Labour government, which took over from the Conservatives in July, is following the same line, and says it wants to implement 'the biggest nuclear rollout program for a generation'. It also announced on Tuesday in its press release 'record investment' in research and development into nuclear fusion of more than £2.5 billion over five years. But the announcement has been met with anger by some local residents worried about the impact of the new plant on the local town of Leiston in Suffolk. Nearby is also the single water pressurised Sizewell B nuclear power station which is currently is due to close in 2035, and Sizewell A which is in the process of being decommissioned.
Metro
30-04-2025
- Business
- Metro
How China is using the UK to protect its nuclear designs
Chinese nuclear power giants are using the British Intellectual Property Office to protect their advanced designs (Picture: Getty Images/Science Photo Libra) Chinese firms are using the UK to protect their nuclear blueprints — despite being sanctioned in the US over fears of military activity. The state-owned companies are using the British patenting office as Beijing forges ahead with new reactors to power its own country while targeting the West with espionage and cyber-attacks. Documents show how the energy giants are drawing up designs for advanced fuel technology and 'in-depth' protection of plants. The applications have emerged as the government seeks to keep the Scunthorpe steel plant running after using emergency legislation to take over the running of British Steel from its Chinese owners. The crisis followed GCHQ director Anne Keast-Butler warning that Beijing 'is looking to shape global technology' in its favour and the agency now devotes 'more resources to China than any other single mission.' The latest patent has been filed by state-owned companies China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN), China Nuclear Power Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd and CGN Power Co. Ltd. Published in the official journal, the blueprint shows a 3D simulation system helping to improve safety and performance at plants. Another application by China Nuclear Power Engineering Co. Ltd concerns a method for evaluating safety at a power plant. The US Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce says that CGN and the research institute have been involved in 'efforts to acquire advanced US nuclear technology and material for diversion to military uses in China.' Risk management expert Dr Simon Bennett, author of the book 'Atomic Blackmail?', highlighted China's stake in the UK's nuclear industry. He said: 'Chinese involvement in Britain's critical national infrastructure, for example, nuclear and steel, provides the context to China's access to the UK patent system. For better or worse, the government is in bed with China, which gives Beijing traction over British interests. 'The patents filed by the Chinese companies reflect this background of co-operation between the two countries, which is induced by the policy straitjacket that is the Climate Change Act and its net-zero ambition. 'It is hard to overstate how much this legislation shapes, or distorts, depending on your point of view, British policy-making.' The dome for Hinkley Point C's first reactor building is shown being lifted into place in December 2023 (Picture: EDF/SWNS) Dr Bennett, of the University of Leicester, believes the Climate Change Act, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, has led to the UK making unfavourable deals with Chinese firms. He said: 'The Act has led to the UK courting the Chinese state, including through the Hinkley Point C venture. 'Countries such as China and India must be laughing at us as they file plans and forge ahead with their own power industries, including through coal-fired plants, while our government desperately tries to meet its over-ambitious commitments.' While the designs make no reference to military uses, they have been filed at a time of heightened concern in the West about China's covert activities, including espionage and cyber-hacking. Outwardly, Beijing has made no secret of its nuclear ambitions, either for defence or energy purposes. On its website, the China Nuclear Power Engineering Co. carries an article outlining the country's aim to become a 'nuclear industrial power' by 2035 and describes all-round uses for the industry, including defence and the provision of 'strong nuclear weapons'. Detailed plans reveal nuclear ambitions The latest plan filed by Chinese nuclear power firms, published on February 25, is for a 'three-dimensional test system, and three-dimensional test device' for simulating the workings of the critical reactor pressure vessel in a nuclear power plant. The plan was filed by the China General Nuclear Power Corporation, China Nuclear Power Technlogy Research Institute Co. Ltd and the CGN Power Co L. Another design by the China Nuclear Power Engineering Co. Ltd, which does not appear on the US sanctions list but is a 'brother' company of the other firms, has filed a safety plan for 'in-depth' defence at a power plant. Both blueprints have been granted. The scope of the ambitions can also be seen in China's plans to build a nuclear power plant on the moon in order to fuel a research station it intends to open with Russia there. Beijing plans to have the permanent lunar base in operation within 10 years. On home soil, China approved 10 new reactors this week, the fourth year running that it has commissioned the building of at least that number. Xi Jinping's nuclear ramp-up is in contrast to the Chinese involvement in Britain's power sector, which has been thrown into the spotlight by the Scunthorpe crisis, where the government has secured raw materials to keep the plant going for the next few months. Opinions differ on the risks posed by Chinese involvement in the UK's critical infrastructure, but there is no doubt that successive governments have cooled on the source of investment. CGN had a stake in Sizewell C before being bought out by the UK government in 2022 (Picture: Chris Radburn/AFP via Getty) R 'Ray' Wang, principal analyst and founder at Constellation Research, a technology research and advisory company based in Silicon Valley, said: 'China likes to play both sides. They are bad actors in world trade and they are bad actors in the patenting world. 'They like to go in and file patents to protect their IP while stealing everyone else's IP and claiming it as their own. 'This is essentially what the challenge is. 'With the overall energy industry, whether it be a small modular reactor, the EV side or nuclear energy, they are trying to socialise and then make their corporate espionage their own IP. 'Essentially, they are stealing the IP and then applying for a patent so that no one will steal from them. They are doing the same thing across the world with critical infrastructure technology but it's a little more blatant in the UK and a little less so here in the US. 'Part of it is because of the UK's relationships with China starting with power, whether it be solar panels or EVs including the electric black cabs, which are made in China. 'Another part is the push back from President Trump, who is the one spotlighting this overarching issue, which is going to continue amid the trade war. The question for the UK is who it trusts more; whether it be a US firm like Cisco or a Chinese firm like Huawei?' China's ability to reach and intimidate its targets in the UK has alarmed activists (Picture: File image by Getty Images/Science Photo Libra) China has been involved in the UK's civil nuclear industry over the last decade but the working relationship has taken a downwards turn in recent years. CGN's one-third stake in Hinkley Point C, which may not open until 2031, is one of the deals in question. As Western-Chinese relations have deteriorated, the firm has reportedly ruled out any further investment in what was intended to be the first new nuclear power plant to be built in the UK in nearly 30 years. CGN also had a 20% stake in the Sizewell C nuclear reactor power venture in Suffolk before being bought out by the government in 2022. Earlier this month, it was reported that the company will no longer build a nuclear power station named Bradwell B in Essex in conjunction with French-owned EDF. The corporation is not expected to submit planning applications for the site, according to government and industry sources who spoke to the Times. An Intellectual Property Office spokesperson said: 'Overseas companies, including from China, can register patents in the UK through the IPO – just as we expect UK companies to be able to register patents overseas. 'The process of obtaining a patent requires that the details of the innovation are published on a publicly accessible register of patents, ensuring transparency. 'Separate powers enable the government to restrict overseas involvement in sensitive sectors where necessary for national security reasons.' The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero also maintained that safeguards are in place to protect British interests. A spokesperson told Metro: 'Through the National Security and Investment Act, we have a robust set of powers to restrict overseas involvement within the civil nuclear sector and sensitive nuclear information is protected by the Office for Nuclear Regulation.' In relation to Scunthorpe, the Chinese embassy in the UK has said that British Steel was 'loss-making' before private firm Jingye kept it afloat and attacked the 'anti-China rhetoric of some individual British politicians.' A spokesperson said: 'Generally speaking, Chinese companies in the UK have operated in compliance with law and achieved steady progress. 'They have made positive contributions to the local economy. 'According to statistics available, Chinese companies in the UK have contributed over 115 billion pounds to the UK economy and created nearly 60,000 jobs.' Metro has attempted to reach the Chinese companies and the country's UK Embassy for comment. Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact Arrow MORE: Ominous warning over when China could invade Taiwan issued by ex-intelligence boss Arrow MORE: The devious method used by Chinese spies to track a US general's every move Arrow MORE: Activists warn of China's 'terrifying' reach into the UK after parliament alert
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Labour's cosying up to China leaves British industry at Beijing's mercy
The tussle over British Steel has laid bare just how exposed UK industry is to foreign influence. Ministers seized control of the day-to-day running of its Scunthorpe site after talks with British Steel's Chinese owner Jingye broke down. It was about more than just an issue with an individual company, as Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, made clear over the weekend. 'I wouldn't personally bring a Chinese company into our steel sector,' he said, marking a clear departure from five years ago when Boris Johnson said the Jingye takeover meant the sound of steelworks in the North East would 'ring out for decades to come'. Reynolds has said there was now a 'high trust bar' for dealing with companies from China. However, he insisted most Chinese investments were 'in non-contentious' industries like cars, farming and life sciences. The qualification makes clear the uncomfortable balance ministers are struggling to maintain. While taking a hard line on British Steel, the Government is wary of offending Beijing as Labour courts Chinese cash. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, flew to Beijing in January hoping to 'build a long-term economic relationship with China that works in the national interest'. Chinese investment is important to driving the growth the Chancellor so sorely needs and its industry is crucial to meeting Ed Miliband's net zero drive. China supplies much of the renewable energy infrastructure needed to decarbonise the energy grid by 2030 and is building the cheap electric vehicles (EVs) we need if we are to wean Britain off combustion engines within a decade. However, experts say MPs should be much more wary about China's drive to buy up Britain, with investments spanning from nuclear energy to Heathrow Airport. Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, warns that Chinese involvement only spells trouble. 'They shouldn't be involved in any of our critical national infrastructure because they're just not reliable partners, and their behaviour over steel illustrates that pretty well.'Why on earth the last high quality steel maker should have a Chinese owner when we now need it to build submarines and tanks is anybody's guess,' he adds. One of China's most contentious investments in recent years has been China General Nuclear Corporation's (CGN's) stake in the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.A deal announced in 2015 saw CGN take a 33.5pc share in the project, although the Chinese halted funding in 2023 amid mounting tensions between London and Beijing. Tom Greatrex, the chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, has insisted Beijing's investments in nuclear energy does not threaten national security because there is no Chinese tech involved. However, Dan Marks at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) think tank believes otherwise. 'As a financial investor of course there's a lot less risk. But the real question is, do you want Chinese state companies to have quite detailed knowledge and access to operational material, even if they don't have access to very detailed engineering plans? 'They'll still know a lot more than everybody else, and they'll know what corporate discussions are being had, what direction everything is going in and whether it's making money. This is important information.' Critics also point to China's dominance in the manufacturing of wind turbines as a red flag in terms of national security. A dossier commissioned by Germany's defence ministry recently warned that enabling Beijing's dominance over energy supplies meant it may have the power to delay projects and even remotely shut down turbines 'as an instrument of economic warfare'. Politicians are now urging the Scottish Government to rethink a deal with Chinese supplier Mingyang to decarbonise the North Sea in a deal that could see Beijing overseeing power generation for millions of British homes. 'We're shooting ourselves in both feet with net zero and having a timetable that is going to endanger this country,' says one defence source. Miliband's commitment to one of the most ambitious decarbonisation timetables on the planet is 'completely bonkers', they add. Labour pledged an 'audit' of Britain's relationship with China in its 2024 manifesto. 'We will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must,' it said. Downing Street said there were no current plan for a wider review into Chinese investments. A spokesman said there was already 'a very rigorous review system, particularly when it comes to our energy sector – all investments are subject to the highest national security scrutiny'. However, Luke de Pulford, co-founder of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, says Labour must speed up the audit it promised in its manifesto. De Pulford also warns that unless the Government changes its approach to net zero, Britain will be beholden to Beijing. 'Our net zero targets are completely unachievable without reliance upon China. We have to wake up and smell the coffee over what the Chinese Communist Party is and why it's making these investments. Then we need to audit and reduce our dependence upon China, particularly in areas of critical infrastructure.' There is of course precedent for excluding China from critical infrastructure. The Government has banned Huawei from the UK's 5G networks. However, investments elsewhere have raised concerns of naivety in Chinese were allowed to take control of London-based Global Switch, Europe's largest data centre operator, despite significant concern elsewhere. The company stores huge amounts of sensitive data and Australia's defence ministry moved secret files out of a Global Switch site in Sydney following the deal, amid concerns that the Chinese could access military secrets. The division was eventually hived off and put back into Australian hands. There are also questions surrounding investments by China Investment Corporation (CIC). The world's second biggest sovereign wealth fund has stakes in warehouse and logistics giant Logicor, which counts major retailers including Marks & Spencer and Amazon among its clients, as well as Heathrow Airport, where Reeves recently backed expansion. Then there are EVs. Roughly 100,000 new Chinese cars drove off British forecourts last year, representing almost one in 20 new vehicles sold. Sir Richard says: 'If in future there is a crisis, they could be a real menace. EVs are computers on wheels that can be reprogrammed by the manufacturer at the drop of a hat. So you can get a Chinese car in a crisis and find out that it only goes backwards or it doesn't go anywhere.' It's not just paranoia. The Biden administration warned last year that Chinese tech in cars that was connected to the internet posed a 'very real' threat to US drivers. Marks at Rusi says it's not just EVs, either. 'For example, should someone like the Prime Minister have a smart speaker? Because that can equally listen to you, and it could be the manufacturer, it could equally be somebody hacking,' he says. 'EVs are particularly susceptible to it because they are kind of just so smart, and also because they're so dependent on software.' Britain should, ironically, take a leaf out of China's book, he says. 'China doesn't allow EVs or other smart cars with sensors that are connected onto secure sites for any government use.' Ministers would also do well to monitor the fortunes of Li Ka-Shing, the Hong Kong billionaire with a sweeping portfolio of British businesses spanning from Superdrug to Greene King and, crucially, majority stakes in Northumbrian Water and mobile phone network Three, which has been given the green light to merge with Vodafone. The 96-year-old billionaire is a self-made man but has recently come under pressure from Beijing over plans to sell a string of ports including assets in the Panama Canal. China is piling pressure on Li's CK Hutchison Holdings to call off the deal. State media circulated an article in Hong Kong with the less than flattering title 'Don't be naive and senile'. Referring to the Three-Vodafone merger, De Pulford warns that Beijing may assert more political pressure over Li's empire in future. 'That's a vast swathe of our telecoms infrastructure that will be owned by a Hong Kong company,' says De Pulford. The UK Government remains intent on pressing ahead with deals, including exporting more British services to China. Sir Keir Starmer plans to travel there later this year. De Pulford acknowledges that a complete decoupling will not be possible, but he says Britain must be wary. 'Ultimately, we need the water and trains to keep running. We need the lights to switch on when we push the switch. And we don't want to be in a situation where we've handed control to an adversary state over all of that critical infrastructure.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
15-04-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Labour's cosying up to China leaves British industry at Beijing's mercy
The tussle over British Steel has laid bare just how exposed UK industry is to foreign influence. Ministers seized control of the day-to-day running of its Scunthorpe site after talks with British Steel's Chinese owner Jingye broke down. It was about more than just an issue with an individual company, as Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, made clear over the weekend. 'I wouldn't personally bring a Chinese company into our steel sector,' he said, marking a clear departure from five years ago when Boris Johnson said the Jingye takeover meant the sound of steelworks in the North East would 'ring out for decades to come'. Reynolds has said there was now a 'high trust bar' for dealing with companies from China. However, he insisted most Chinese investments were 'in non-contentious' industries like cars, farming and life sciences. The qualification makes clear the uncomfortable balance ministers are struggling to maintain. While taking a hard line on British Steel, the Government is wary of offending Beijing as Labour courts Chinese cash. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, flew to Beijing in January hoping to 'build a long-term economic relationship with China that works in the national interest'. Chinese investment is important to driving the growth the Chancellor so sorely needs and its industry is crucial to meeting Ed Miliband's net zero drive. China supplies much of the renewable energy infrastructure needed to decarbonise the energy grid by 2030 and is building the cheap electric vehicles (EVs) we need if we are to wean Britain off combustion engines within a decade. However, experts say MPs should be much more wary about China's drive to buy up Britain, with investments spanning from nuclear energy to Heathrow Airport. Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, warns that Chinese involvement only spells trouble. 'They shouldn't be involved in any of our critical national infrastructure because they're just not reliable partners, and their behaviour over steel illustrates that pretty well. 'Why on earth the last high quality steel maker should have a Chinese owner when we now need it to build submarines and tanks is anybody's guess,' he adds. Energy industry investments One of China's most contentious investments in recent years has been China General Nuclear Corporation's (CGN's) stake in the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station. A deal announced in 2015 saw CGN take a 33.5pc share in the project, although the Chinese halted funding in 2023 amid mounting tensions between London and Beijing. Tom Greatrex, the chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, has insisted Beijing's investments in nuclear energy does not threaten national security because there is no Chinese tech involved. However, Dan Marks at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) think tank believes otherwise. 'As a financial investor of course there's a lot less risk. But the real question is, do you want Chinese state companies to have quite detailed knowledge and access to operational material, even if they don't have access to very detailed engineering plans? 'They'll still know a lot more than everybody else, and they'll know what corporate discussions are being had, what direction everything is going in and whether it's making money. This is important information.' Critics also point to China's dominance in the manufacturing of wind turbines as a red flag in terms of national security. A dossier commissioned by Germany's defence ministry recently warned that enabling Beijing's dominance over energy supplies meant it may have the power to delay projects and even remotely shut down turbines 'as an instrument of economic warfare'. Politicians are now urging the Scottish Government to rethink a deal with Chinese supplier Mingyang to decarbonise the North Sea in a deal that could see Beijing overseeing power generation for millions of British homes. 'We're shooting ourselves in both feet with net zero and having a timetable that is going to endanger this country,' says one defence source. Miliband's commitment to one of the most ambitious decarbonisation timetables on the planet is 'completely bonkers', they add. 'Britain beholden to Beijing' Labour pledged an 'audit' of Britain's relationship with China in its 2024 manifesto. 'We will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must,' it said. Downing Street said there were no current plan for a wider review into Chinese investments. A spokesman said there was already 'a very rigorous review system, particularly when it comes to our energy sector – all investments are subject to the highest national security scrutiny'. However, Luke de Pulford, co-founder of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, says Labour must speed up the audit it promised in its manifesto. De Pulford also warns that unless the Government changes its approach to net zero, Britain will be beholden to Beijing. 'Our net zero targets are completely unachievable without reliance upon China. We have to wake up and smell the coffee over what the Chinese Communist Party is and why it's making these investments. Then we need to audit and reduce our dependence upon China, particularly in areas of critical infrastructure.' There is of course precedent for excluding China from critical infrastructure. The Government has banned Huawei from the UK's 5G networks. However, investments elsewhere have raised concerns of naivety in Chinese were allowed to take control of London-based Global Switch, Europe's largest data centre operator, despite significant concern elsewhere. The company stores huge amounts of sensitive data and Australia's defence ministry moved secret files out of a Global Switch site in Sydney following the deal, amid concerns that the Chinese could access military secrets. The division was eventually hived off and put back into Australian hands. There are also questions surrounding investments by China Investment Corporation (CIC). The world's second biggest sovereign wealth fund has stakes in warehouse and logistics giant Logicor, which counts major retailers including Marks & Spencer and Amazon among its clients, as well as Heathrow Airport, where Reeves recently backed expansion. Then there are EVs. Roughly 100,000 new Chinese cars drove off British forecourts last year, representing almost one in 20 new vehicles sold. Sir Richard says: 'If in future there is a crisis, they could be a real menace. EVs are computers on wheels that can be reprogrammed by the manufacturer at the drop of a hat. So you can get a Chinese car in a crisis and find out that it only goes backwards or it doesn't go anywhere.' It's not just paranoia. The Biden administration warned last year that Chinese tech in cars that was connected to the internet posed a 'very real' threat to US drivers. Marks at Rusi says it's not just EVs, either. 'For example, should someone like the Prime Minister have a smart speaker? Because that can equally listen to you, and it could be the manufacturer, it could equally be somebody hacking,' he says. 'EVs are particularly susceptible to it because they are kind of just so smart, and also because they're so dependent on software.' Britain should, ironically, take a leaf out of China's book, he says. 'China doesn't allow EVs or other smart cars with sensors that are connected onto secure sites for any government use.' Heeding Hong Kong Ministers would also do well to monitor the fortunes of Li Ka-Shing, the Hong Kong billionaire with a sweeping portfolio of British businesses spanning from Superdrug to Greene King and, crucially, majority stakes in Northumbrian Water and mobile phone network Three, which has been given the green light to merge with Vodafone. The 96-year-old billionaire is a self-made man but has recently come under pressure from Beijing over plans to sell a string of ports including assets in the Panama Canal. China is piling pressure on Li's CK Hutchison Holdings to call off the deal. State media circulated an article in Hong Kong with the less than flattering title 'Don't be naive and senile'. Referring to the Three-Vodafone merger, De Pulford warns that Beijing may assert more political pressure over Li's empire in future. 'That's a vast swathe of our telecoms infrastructure that will be owned by a Hong Kong company,' says De Pulford. The UK Government remains intent on pressing ahead with deals, including exporting more British services to China. Sir Keir Starmer plans to travel there later this year. De Pulford acknowledges that a complete decoupling will not be possible, but he says Britain must be wary. 'Ultimately, we need the water and trains to keep running. We need the lights to switch on when we push the switch. And we don't want to be in a situation where we've handed control to an adversary state over all of that critical infrastructure.'
