UK Foreign Secretary Accused of Jeopardizing National Security Through China Reliance

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband's pursuit of Net Zero goals by embracing Chinese renewable energy technologies risks compromising Britain's national security, according to an opinion piece by Ian Williams. The article argues that Miliband's past deal as Energy Secretary, which committed the UK to increased cooperation with Beijing on green technologies, could hand control of the nation's de-carbonized power grid to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

These technologies include offshore wind farms, solar power, electricity grids, battery storage, carbon capture, and hydrogen. China has achieved global dominance in these sectors through extensive subsidies and overproduction, leading to significantly lower prices.

The author contends that Miliband views this reliance on Chinese technology as a means to achieve his climate objectives, but warns of severe dangers. He draws a parallel to the energy shock caused by dependence on Russia for fossil fuels, suggesting that Miliband is creating a similar vulnerability with a different hostile state.

Williams asserts that 'green' technologies can be exploited for data theft, sabotage, and espionage. He specifically points to wind turbines, describing them as smart devices capable of being used for purposes such as mapping wind farms or even shutting them down.

According to the piece, President Xi Jinping utilizes the creation of dependencies in critical supply chains as a tool of CCP policy for coercion. The author suggests that Miliband's apparent failure to recognize this poses an abdication of his duties as Foreign Secretary. The article highlights China's human rights record, its aggressive cyber espionage and theft targeting Britain, and its efforts to undermine British democracy through influence operations. Despite these concerns, the piece states that Britain's top diplomat appears unhindered in his embrace of Chinese technology.

Williams concludes that while this reliance on Beijing may serve Miliband's Net Zero agenda, it comes at a substantial cost to both Britain's energy and national security. Ian Williams is the author of 'Vampire State: The Rise And Fall Of The Chinese Economy'.