The United States warns Britain of security risks on the Chinese wind farm

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The Trump administration has raised concerns with the UK government about plans one of the largest wind turbine companies in China to provide wind farms in the North Sea from a new factory in Scotland.

A US official told the Financial Times that Washington had warned London, which argues that national security risks are linked to allowing Mangang to build a factory in the United Kingdom.

The American intervention comes at a time when the British ministers review whether they should prevent the factory, amid questions raised by politicians Cyber ​​security And the risk of relying on Chinese technology.

Guangdong -based Mingyang is not state -owned, but critics argue that there is a danger to Beijing in making decisions.

The UK government has become more cautious about Ming’s possible participation in British British winds After a row British officials said that the Genji Group, which owns a decisive solid company in northeastern England, with an unconnected Chinese company, has a set of critical steel in northeastern England.

A person familiar with the London operation on Mingang’s possible participation in the UK waste supply chains was that it was “a continuous discussion” and that there are mixed views on whether or not the company will be prevented. Ministers can prevent investment in the United Kingdom under the National Security and Investment Law.

The American warning is the latest example of expressing concern about Chinese activities in the United Kingdom, as the government of the Labor Party sought for Mr. Kerr Starmer to revitalize relations between London and Beijing.

White House also to caution Duond Street about allowing Beijing to build a new embassy in London.

In the United States, security officials have warned in recent years of the risk that Chinese wind turbines will carry out electronic monitoring technology, which is a special concern when it is near military bases.

The US official said Washington has raised concerns with Berlin about allowing Chinese wind turbines to work in Germany. Mingang won a contract to be the preferential supplier of the wind energy project abroad in the North Sea. But parts of the German government have raised concerns about national security and unfair Chinese competition.

The American intervention in the UK highlights the difficult balance of Britain, as it follows the clean energy goals at the same time that it runs relations with Donald Trump as he takes a more strict position with American allies in everything from trade to defensive spending.

Mingyang did not historically make wind turbines in the UK market, but he is holding talks with float power developers and Vårgränn to provide floating wind turbines abroad for the North Sea project called Green Volt, in addition to a separate project that is developed by the winds. It also has a favorite resource agreement with the Swedish developer Hexicon for the floating wind project in the Celtic Sea.

Supporters of Mingyang plans say that the Chinese company turbines will enable the UK government’s ambitions to build floating wind farms. They also argue with a factory in Scotland in creating job opportunities.

But opponents believe that the risks in the UK depend on Chinese technology when they can instead encourage European turbine makers, and security concerns have sparked Chinese suppliers working in UK waters.

“If the Chinese manufactured turbines are installed, security experts have warned that the sensors can spy in the British seas, defense submarine programs and plan our energy structure,” Tory Shadow told Scotland Andrew Bowie to the House of Commons in February.

Supporters argue that any risk that can be organized and managed, and wondering whether it is appropriate for the American government to intervene. “America is not investing in its supply chain. Why is it now interfering in the options of others?” The wind industry source said. “It is important for the government, industry to decline and say, this is not your work.”

British security services were feeding on reviewing China’s role in the UK energy system, I mentioned financial times In February.

The Deputy Minister in Scotland, Kate Forbes, previously referred to the Scottish government OpenFT news in November of last year there was a “room” of the company.

The Scottish government is awaiting an explanation about the security effects – a matter dedicated to Westminster under the regional governments system in Britain.

Mingang’s ban would risk the reinforcement of Beijing at a time when Britain is setting off Chinese investment and cooperating on zero.

Ed Miliband, Minister of Energy, traveled to Beijing in March for the first official climate talks in the United Kingdom with the country since 2017.

Since then, the row has fed with Jenji on British steel in Scunthorpe to worry about foreign control over the main assets. The ministers used emergency powers to seize the site to prevent Jinji from closing the son -in -law.

A UK government spokesman declined to comment on the Mingiang case, but he said that the UK “will not let anything hinder our national security,” adding that “investment in the energy sector is subject to the highest levels of national security scrutiny.”

“We welcome all internal investment in the marine winds to help develop the sector, create job opportunities and build a prosperous supply chain here in the United Kingdom,” said a spokesman for the Green Volt project. Mingang refused to comment.

Participated in additional reports by George Parker and Smun Kiir