Beijing's Influence: The Hidden Reach of China in Britain's Core Infrastructure

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Beijing's Influence: The Hidden Reach of China in Britain's Core Infrastructure

 

The ongoing efforts to save the furnaces at British Steel’s Scunthorpe site have triggered renewed concerns in Westminster about China’s growing influence across the UK’s critical infrastructure. The involvement of the Chinese-owned Jingye Group in Scunthorpe is now seen as a stark reminder of how deeply Beijing’s interests are embedded in vital sectors, prompting fresh calls for the government to reduce its exposure to China.

 

 

While not every Chinese company aligns with the policies of President Xi Jinping’s government, all private firms in China are legally obliged to cooperate with the state when required. As one observer put it, “Not all companies in China will support President Xi’s regime, but all private companies in the country have a legal duty to follow the state’s instructions when required.” This reality adds a layer of complexity to the UK's economic ties with Chinese firms.

 

 

A 2023 investigation by The Sunday Times revealed that more than 100 British companies have the Chinese state as a shareholder. Although no wrongdoing has been alleged, the figures are staggering. The China List compiled by the paper last year found that £45 billion worth of UK assets were held by the Chinese state, while total holdings by Chinese and Hong Kong investors reached £152 billion.

 

 

One of the most sensitive areas of Chinese involvement is in nuclear energy. The China General Nuclear Corporation (CGN) was once a key investor in Hinkley Point C, but it pulled back its funding in 2023. The UK government subsequently paid CGN more than £100 million to withdraw its 20 percent stake in the Sizewell C project in Suffolk. CGN remains a lead developer in plans for the Bradwell B plant in Essex, although the project has seen little progress.

 

 

Chinese state-owned entities also have a significant presence in UK utilities. The China Investment Company (CIC) holds a 10.5 percent stake in the National Grid’s gas distribution network and an 8.7 percent share in Thames Water. CIC also owns part of Cadent Gas and has a 49 percent stake in Neptune, the operator of the Cygnus gas field in the North Sea. In addition, CK Hutchinson, considered close to the Chinese state by the China Strategic Risks Institute, owns parts of UK Power Networks, Northumbrian Water, Wales & West Utilities, and other key infrastructure providers. CIC also controls roughly 10 percent of Heathrow Airport.

 

 

In higher education, The Times previously reported that 42 UK universities had links with Chinese institutions identified as high risk by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. These included 22 universities engaged with entities possessing deep connections to the Chinese military and state apparatus. While not all collaborations pose a danger, the findings have unsettled security experts.

 

Britain’s push for greener energy has also left it reliant on Chinese technology. About 80 percent of global solar panel manufacturing is dominated by China, including the critical raw materials. The UK lacks substantial domestic production and spends hundreds of millions annually on imports. Intelligence services, including MI5, have reportedly been assessing the risks posed by widespread use of Chinese-manufactured solar panels and industrial batteries.

 

China’s presence is also felt in wind energy. Analysis by The Times revealed that Chinese companies have funded or supplied components for at least 14 of the UK’s 50 offshore wind farms. State-owned firms hold major stakes in three projects that together generate power for up to two million homes. A recent debate in Parliament highlighted concern over Chinese company Mingyang potentially supplying turbines for Scotland’s Green Volt project.

 

Even telecommunications and consumer tech are under scrutiny. Although Huawei was removed from the UK’s 5G networks in 2020, a merger between Vodafone and Three has sparked renewed fears. CK Hutchinson’s involvement raised red flags with the China Strategic Risks Institute, which warned the deal would “add to a growing list of major stakes held by PRC firms in the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure.”

 

Finally, consumer goods with embedded cellular technology—such as smart meters and electric vehicles—are emerging as the next battleground. The Coalition on Secure Technology warned that three Chinese firms dominate more than half the global market for these components, raising fears of potential data manipulation or disruption.

 

As the government grapples with safeguarding the Scunthorpe steelworks, it is becoming increasingly clear that China’s influence runs far deeper than one industrial site.

 

Based on a report by The Times  2025-04-16

 

 

[JimHuaHin]

It is not just Britain, it is happening in many developed and developing countries, including Thailand and it's neighbours.

[mfd101]

There's a new boss in town. We're going to have to get used to it.

 

Meantime the former boss is organising his suicide.

[Woke to Sounds]

All planned and pipelined.

 

Tis the long game m'boy.

 

Same thing happened in Canada ages ago.

 

I'd suspect the same could be said about Aus and NZ.

[sammieuk1]

Keir you idiot this is not this is not your Red Wall 🤔

 

[bkk6060]

Seems like China is Britain's Daddy. Sad.

[jippytum]

 Donald Trump is the only politician prepared to protect his country from Chineese ilfiltration. Kudos to him. 

 

[Purdey]

When in trouble, governments cry, please Mr. China, save us!

Then later, it's go away Mr. China, we don't want you! 

There's no point in begging for help then saying China has too many investments. Ban Chinese investments if you don't want their money.

[Yagoda]

The world has a choice. USA or China. 

[black tabby12345]

2 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

It is not just Britain, it is happening in many developed and developing countries, including Thailand and it's neighbours.

 

China is technically Annexing Laotian land, in exchange with financial aid.

They "borrow" the land of Lao for 50-75 years.

And send in their migrants; eventually taking over its territory.

A form of Population Invasion by their regime.

Another method to Steal other country from within, other than their operation Debt Trap.

[black tabby12345]

Another form of silent sabotage by CCP in UK: Circulation of Fake Postal Stamps.

Surprisingly, it was openly sold online.

 

Fake UK stamps blamed on Chinese-made counterfeits

 

Royal Mail urged to investigate claims of Chinese-made fake stamps | Postal service | The Guardian

 

[Watawattana]

Successive UK governments have bent over and offered their butts to foreign investment, giving away massive chunks of their infrastructure and manufacturing backbone to those investors, all at the expense of the UK consumer, businesses and employees.  This was all predictable.  Plenty of opposition politicians made complaints, only for their parties to do t exactly the same thing when they got into power.  UK; you are getting what you deserve.

[mfd101]

6 hours ago, Yagoda said:

The world has a choice. USA or China. 

If Usofa is clever (which it obviously isn't under the current idiot leadership , but arguably hasn't been for most of this century) and if its friends & clients (eg Oz) are clever, then everyone can eat their cake & have it. That is, they can enjoy polite and useful & profitable relations with the growing new world power while maintaining their traditional friendly and profitable relations with the old.

 

But currently that's a long shot ...