Truss: We cannot be dependent on China
Beijing should play no part in nuclear plants or 5G, suggests Foreign Secretary
BRITAIN must not become “dependent” on China, and critical national infrastructure such as nuclear power plants should only be built with “likeminded” partners, the Foreign Secretary warns today.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Liz Truss indicates that Beijingcontrolled companies should be excluded from contracts to build Sizewell C, saying joint work on sensitive projects should only be carried out with nations that have a “bond of trust” with the UK.
Her comments come days after Boris Johnson said he was not a “Sinophobe” and would not “pitchfork away” Chinese investment.
Ms Truss also names cyber security, artificial intelligence, quantum technology and 5G technology as areas in which the involvement of Chinese companies should be treated with caution.
She refers to Margaret Thatcher’s hardline stance in the Cold War to back up her argument, saying: “Putting the positive case for freedom and democracy really, really changed history.”
The remarks throw into doubt plans by the Chinese state-owned firm China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) to construct 20 per cent of Sizewell C, a proposed nuclear plant in Suffolk.
Meanwhile, there was confusion over China in Washington as Joe Biden initially suggested the US would defend Taiwan if Beijing attacked, only for the White House to backtrack later in the day.
In recent years, the British political climate has turned colder towards China, with critics on the Tory backbenches becoming more vocal as Beijing’s influence has increased.
The Prime Minister has attempted a two-track approach, keeping trade open while also drawing critical attention to human rights violations and scaling back Chinese involvement in 5G networks.
Ms Truss, promoted to Foreign Secretary in a reshuffle last month and often tipped by colleagues as a future leader, outlined her tough approach to China yesterday during a trip to India.
“The way I would put it is that of course we trade with China, it’s an important trading partner of the UK. But it’s important that we don’t become strategically dependent,” Ms Truss said.
She talked about the hope of building “a network of liberty around the world with like-minded partners” through economic ties to counter hostile
‘Of course we trade with China. But it’s important that we don’t become strategically dependent’
countries. One challenge in London-beijing relations is UK nuclear power, which Mr Johnson wants to expand to meet his decarbonising targets and in which China has traditionally played a key role.
CGN helped build the Hinkley Point C plant in Somerset and is working on plans for the Sizewell C plant.
Asked if she did not want to see Chinese state-owned companies involved in UK nuclear power plants in the future, Ms Truss appeared to urge caution.
She said: “I’d go back to the broader comments I’ve made about diversifying supply. I think it’s very
important that we don’t become strategically dependent and I think it’s important that we make sure that we’re working, particularly in areas of critical national infrastructure, with reliable partners.”
Asked a second time if it was fair to say she was against Chinese stateowned companies being involved in any new nuclear plants, Ms Truss gave a similar response: “As I’ve said, we are making sure, in all of our policy positions, that we are able to work with likeminded partners on key strategic areas.”
CGN has an agreement to construct 20 per cent of Sizewell C if the project is approved and has expressed interest in building its own nuclear power plant at Bradwell-on-sea in Essex.
Any decision on the involvement of Chinese firms in major UK infrastructure projects would most likely be taken by the Prime Minister, in consultation with other relevant Cabinet ministers.
The Government has pledged to announce financing for one major new nuclear power plant before the next election, due in May 2024.
Whitehall insiders have said Sizewell C is the front-runner, but it is unclear what impact blocking CGN’S involvement would have on the plan.
Ms Truss also announced £1.6 million for joint initiatives between the UK and India to encourage new entrants into 5G technology markets.
It will be seen as a deliberate attempt to make sure the UK is never again reliant on Huawei, the Chinese telecoms company whose involvement in the UK’S 5G network caused controversy.
Ms Truss said: “It is very important that we don’t become strategically dependent on high-risk vendors in this space. There are other areas like quantum, artificial intelligence, cyber security
‘We need to make sure the partners we’re innovating with are reliable and there is a bond of trust there’
where we need to make sure the partners we’re innovating with are reliable and there is a bond of trust there.”
Ms Truss’s visit to India was part of a four-day diplomatic tour also including Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It follows visits to America and Mexico last month.
Ms Truss has previously held the Cabinet roles of international trade secretary, chief secretary to the Treasury, justice secretary and environment secretary. She is the first Tory woman to hold the role of Foreign Secretary.