Theresa May urged not to cave in to Chinese ‘bullying’ over the Hinkley Point nuclear power station
Former security minister Admiral Lord West says the PM should take her time to examine the £18billion project
THERESA May was tonight urged not to cave in to Chinese “bullying” over the Hinkley Point nuclear power station after the country’s ambassador warned pulling the plug could put £40 billion of investment at risk.
Former security minister Admiral Lord West hit out after Liu Xiaoming said China’s relationship with Britain was at a “crucial juncture” as Mrs May reviews the£18 billion nuclear plant amid security fears about Beijing’s involvement.
Mr Liu called on the PM to approve the project – 33 per cent funded by China – “as soon as possible”, suggesting other planned investments could be torn up if not.
And he added: “If the UK’s openness is a condition for China-UK co-operation, mutual trust between the two is the very foundation.”
But Lord West, former head of the Navy, told Mrs May to take her time and examine the project properly after fears were raised the Chinese could install a “back door” in computer systems to shut the nuclear power station down.
He told The Sun: “When people threaten and bully you it makes you wonder what’s behind it all. It makes me rather nervous.
“I think the security issue can probably be sorted out by our people but it does worry me.
“If the Chinese are going to be fully involved in our nuclear power stations we have to be very careful because we know that China does cyberattacks on an industrial scale against our country to obtain things like intellectual property.
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“Of course we want to do business with China but it has got to be on the same basis as other countries.”
Mrs May is also examining cost concerns over the project which will add £10-a-year to bills, and worries over the unproven technology being used by French firm EDF.
A Government spokesman made clear the PM would not be rushed, saying: “This decision is about a huge infrastructure project and it’s right that the new Government carefully considers it.
“We co-operate with China on a broad range of areas from the global economy to international issues and we will continue to seek a strong relationship with China.”
But Labour blasted the PM for putting vital foreign investment at risk – just days after pro-China former Chancellor George Osborne said Britain must send an “unambiguous message we’re open to overseas investment”.
Shadow Business Secretary Jon Trickett said Mrs May had put “£40 billion of inward investment in jeopardy by bungling negotiations over Hinkley Point”.