CHINESE SPYING THREAT TO HIGHLAND TURBINES PLANT

Expert warns £1.5bn factory is playing into hands of the Communist state

- David Walker

CHINA may use a planned wind turbine factory to spy on Scotland and the UK, it has been claimed.

The news followed an announcement last week of plans to open a £1.5bn turbine manufacturing facility in the Highlands, However, this investment can only go ahead if it is approved by the UK Government.

But Westminster is under pressure due to the ongoing China spying scandal in which prosecutors dropped a case about two British nationals who were allegedly spying on ministers and relaying information to the Communist state.

Concerns have since been raised about the risk to national security by letting a Chinese business into the National Grid.

Despite these fears, the SNP Government has for months been wooing the Chinese company behind the project, Ming Yang.

The nationalists have had numerous closed-door meetings with the company.

The First Minister, John Swinney along with his deputy, Kate Forbes and business minister Richard Lochhead have spent the past 12 months meeting Ming Yang.

This comes after "extensive" engagement which has taken place "for several years" by the Scottish Government's international investment arm.

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