Former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove has warned that China could cripple the United Kingdom by exploiting its dependency on Chinese steel and technology, potentially bringing the country to a standstill.
Speaking to members of Parliament, Dearlove asserted that China's control over critical materials essential for infrastructure, such as power grids, grants Beijing significant strategic leverage. "Peacetime dependencies give China strategic leverage, and in a crisis it gives them weapons of mass disruption which could literally bring this country to a complete standstill," he stated.
Dearlove noted that while Britain and its allies possess the capacity to design and assemble the necessary equipment for power grids, the raw materials required are increasingly concentrated in Chinese hands. He highlighted that this situation, coupled with Britain's deindustrialization, poses a "chronic danger."
The former spy's remarks come amid reports of a meeting between Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chinese President Xi Jinping. A Downing Street statement indicated that the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a "long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership between the UK and China."
However, Dearlove cautioned that President Xi is pursuing a goal of global dominance by 2049. He also pointed to China's expanding global steel exports, coinciding with declining industrial bases in Europe, and cited the UK's near-reliance on Chinese owners for its domestic steel production as an example of this vulnerability.
Political figures have voiced concerns regarding the UK's reliance on China. Shadow home office minister Alicia Kearns criticized the government's approach, stating that it makes the country less resilient. She argued for measures to protect the grid and ensure energy access, while also raising concerns about the government's defense funding and net-zero policies, which she believes increase reliance on other nations. Labour MP Graeme Downie emphasized the need for the government to acknowledge and defend against such threats, and to inform the public about potential power interruptions. Labour MP Luke Akehurst echoed Dearlove's warning, stressing the seriousness of dependency on China for key products and technologies.