New Build

China Warns UK Over Hinkley ‘National Security Concerns’

By David Dalton
19 August 2016

China Warns UK Over Hinkley ‘National Security Concerns’

19 Aug (NucNet): London’s national security concerns over Chinese investment in the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station could endanger the “bright new prospects” the two nations' leadership agreed to foster during Chinese president Xi Jinping’ s visit to the UK in October, China’s official news agency has said. In an editorial published yesterday, Xinhua, whose views are often seen as a reflection of official thinking, said the worries over the nuclear project are as groundless as they are unnecessary. The Chinese investor, China General Nuclear Power Generation (CGN), only has a one-third stake in the project while the French side holds all the rest. “Thus it is impossible and commercially suicidal for the Chinese side to manipulate the project at its own will,” Xinhua said. “London’s misgivings over Chinese involvement in its key infrastructure is yet another stroke of China-phobia.” The editorial said London has recently made a positive step forward in trying to dilute uncertainties clouding its relations with Beijing following the “controversial” decision to delay Hinkley Point C. Earlier this week, UK prime minister Theresa May dispatched her special envoy, Alok Sharma, along with a letter to Beijing, in a bid to reassure China of the UK’s commitment to a “golden era” of bilateral relations. Xinhua said this was a laudable first move in the right direction. Mrs May is understood to be concerned about the security implications of a planned Chinese investment in Hinkley Point C and has delayed giving the £18bn (€21bn, $23bn) project the green light. Two EPR units at Hinkley Point C will provide 7% of the UK’s electricity over its estimated 60-year lifespan and the first is scheduled to begin commercial operation in 2025, several years later than planned. It will be the UK’s first new nuclear station since Sizewell B, which began commercial operation 21 years ago, in September 1995.

Pen Use this content

Related