China turning UK into ‘dependent’ state with push to infiltrate Britain, MP says

The UK dangers turning into “dependent” on China sooner or later as Beijing seems to be to consolidate its grip on main elements of the economic system, a distinguished Conservative MP has informed Express.co.uk.

It comes amid worsening relations between the 2 powers, which has seen a shift away from the “golden era” coverage led by David Cameron.

China has for years slowly constructed itself up as a world energy, in the present day accounting for nearly 20 % of worldwide GDP.

Under President Xi Jinping it has shifted its inward-looking financial and political technique outwards, pumping massive sums of cash into international locations world wide in a grand play of sentimental energy.

Beijing has left only a few international locations alone, with Britain amongst its main targets if a take a look at its investments within the nation is something to go by.

Not solely do influential Chinese people personal or have stakes in crucial industries and companies within the UK, however the Chinese state itself, too.

Many say the UK has sleepwalked right into a state of affairs the place it finds itself on the cusp of being completely reliant on China for vital elements of its economic system.

Alicia Kearns, Conservative MP for Rutland and Melton and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, warns that Britain’s sovereignty might discover itself endangered if the Government would not do extra to cease “malign investment”.

She informed Express.co.uk: “The consequences of continued malign investment are that as a state, we will be unable to have the sovereignty that we need to protect ourselves.

“So, after we wish to take motion on the world stage, we won’t be able to discourage the worst behaviours of autocrats, significantly the Chinese Communist Party, as a result of we can be depending on them at dwelling, both by way of our provide chains or by way of entry to our knowledge, and even doubtlessly their skill to modify on or change off our crucial nationwide infrastructure.

“If they can make us weak at home, dependent on them, we cannot be strong abroad and we cannot deter. And that is ultimately the strategic outcome they are trying to achieve.”

China has invested in a complete vary of issues within the UK, a few of that are crucial to the best way the nation does its day-to-day enterprise.

The warehouse and logistics firm Logicor has change into a significant cog within the economic system and could be discovered all over the place across the nation. It supplies Amazon with warehouses round many main buying and selling hubs and has premises throughout massive cities together with Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield.

The China Investment Corporation (CIC) — Beijing’s state-owned sovereign wealth fund — has a 60 % stake in Logicor, whereas different Chinese traders personal an extra 30 %.

A worst-case situation envisaged by some consultants sees Beijing examine and analyse the best way during which Britain’s warehouse and logistical operations work with a view to damaging them.

The likes of Ms Kearns say China would have the ability to do that by means of its National Security Law, which dictates that Chinese firms should share delicate knowledge with the Chinese authorities if it requests entry, below the pretence of nationwide safety.

Some of the opposite issues China or Chinese nationals personal embrace:

• Hinkley Point C Nuclear Plant (China General Nuclear Power owns a 33.5 % stake).
• UK Power Networks (owned by Chinese enterprise mogul Li Ka Shing).
• Three UK (owned by Li Ka Shing).
• Northumbrian Water (owned by Li Ka-Shing).
• Neptune Energy (CIC has a 49 % stake).
• Heathrow Airport (CIC has a ten % stake).
• Thames Water (CIC has a 8.68 % stake).

Charles Parton, from the Council on Geostrategy, stated China’s predominant purpose in its efforts was to “decouple” the West — to separate conventional allies from one another and so weaken them.

“They are fully intent on decoupling for themselves,” he informed Express.co.uk. “The Americans from us, us from others, not least because the CCP is quite a paranoid organisation.

“If you had been to look into the Politburo and ask them, ‘What’s your intention?’ I feel it might be 100% an aspiration to decouple. And I feel it is typically the identical on the American facet, too.”

A latest report compiled by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament stated China’s state intelligence equipment was “targeting” Britain and its pursuits “prolifically and aggressively”, within the means of in search of to regulate key industrial and civil nuclear power belongings.

It learn: “China’s size, ambition and capability have enabled it to successfully penetrate every sector of the UK’s economy.

“The UK is now playing catch-up and the whole of Government has its work cut out to understand and counter the threat from China.

“It is clear that China has taken advantage of the policy of successive British governments to boost economic ties between the UK and China, which has enabled it to advance its commercial, science and technology and industrial goals in order to gain a strategic advantage.

“China has been buying up and seeking to control or influence the UK’s industry and energy sectors and – until the Covid-19 pandemic – Chinese money was readily accepted by Government with few questions asked.

“The Government needs to ensure that it has its house in order such that security concerns are not constantly trumped by economic interests.”