Alarm bells continue to ring in the West over Chinese state-owned enterprises
Western governments appear increasingly skittish about allowing Chinese firms to invest in strategically important industries. (Photo: Alamy)
A U-turn from the UK, as seen in last month’s Integrated Review, typifies concern over the risk of Chinese interference in strategically important industries.
Western governments are scrutinising investment ties with Beijing as worries multiply over repercussions for national security. The debate over Huawei's involvement in the worldwide rollout of 5G infrastructure has come to symbolise such concerns.
The UK is no exception but its change in tone is quite abrupt. In 2015, the government’s Strategic Defence and Security Review waxed lyrical about the prospect of investment deals with China, setting the lofty ambition of making Britain ‘China’s leading partner in the West’.
Six years later, attempts at forging a ‘golden decade’ of Anglo-Chinese economic relations lie in tatters, to the extent that the latest
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Defence Notes
-
![Companies’ results boom as countries dig deep to buy missiles and air defence systems]()
Companies’ results boom as countries dig deep to buy missiles and air defence systems
Air defence systems are continuing to appear top of countries’ shopping lists but broadly across different capabilities it is a sellers’ market, as demonstrated by backlogs and double-digit percentage point growth.
-
![Forging strong partnerships for warfighting communications in space (Studio)]()
Forging strong partnerships for warfighting communications in space (Studio)
Mike Moran, Director of US Government Business at Amazon Project Kuiper Government Solutions, highlighted the evolution of space as a critical warfighting domain at the Defence in Space Conference (DISC) 2025, held this week in London.
-
![Details revealed on Germany’s big spending plans]()
Details revealed on Germany’s big spending plans
In May this year, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the government plans to position Germany as “Europe's strongest conventional army”. A new blueprint outlines how this is going to occur through massive investment.
-
![European Council to deliver at “pace and scale” on European defence readiness 2030 roadmap]()
European Council to deliver at “pace and scale” on European defence readiness 2030 roadmap
Two of the concrete projects outlined in the readiness report, the European Air Shield and Space Shield, will aim to be launched by Q2 2026.
