What critical infrastructure does China own in the UK?

As government officials and British Steel staff race to save its blast furnaces after what ministers believe was a plot to sabotage the Scunthorpe plant by its Chinese owners, there are more eyes than ever on Chinese investments in the UK.

- MILLIE COOKE POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

MPs were recalled to parliament on Saturday to pass emergency legislation allowing the government to seize control of British Steel after Jingye, its Chinese owner, appeared to be gearing up to turn off the blast furnaces at the site. But British Steel isn't the only critical infrastructure in which China has a stake.

Nuclear power

The China General Nuclear Corporation (CGN) was an initial investor in the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, giving it a 33.5 per cent stake. But it halted funding in 2023 amid mounting tension between London and Beijing, meaning its one-third stake has been receding in recent years.

In 2016, CGN was charged by the US government with nuclear espionage, resulting in an employee being sentenced to two years in prison. The 17-page indictment accused the company and its employees of having unlawfully conspired to develop nuclear material in China without US approval and "with the intent to secure an advantage to the People's Republic of China".

China was also involved in the Sizewell C nuclear power station but in 2022, the UK government forced Beijing out, spending £679m of taxpayer cash as part of an exit deal.