- The PM is meeting fellow leaders at the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China
- Has confirmed she will ask the security services to review Hinkley deal
- Scheme was put on hold soon after she took over at Downing Street
- Due to hold what could be difficult talks with Premier Xi later today
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Theresa May has ordered the security services to review whether it is safe to let China gain a foothold in Britain’s nuclear industry. The Prime Minister yesterday indicated that the potential security risk posed by China will be a factor in deciding whether to let the communist giant take a 6 billion stake in a planned new nuclear plant at Hinkley Point, in Somerset. As Mrs May prepared for a showdown with President Xi Jinping over the issue today, she also hinted she does not fully trust the autocratic regime in Beijing.
Theresa May is attending the G20 summit in China and will hold what could be difficult talks with premier Xi later today
The Prime Minister halted the controversial Hinkley Point deal shortly after taking office in July, saying she needed to review ‘all the evidence’. A linked deal that would allow China to build a new nuclear power station at Bradwell, in Essex, was also halted. Asked yesterday if the review included convening the National Security Council to consider the threat, she told reporters at a press conference in China: ‘I’m going to do exactly as you said in your question.’
Aides last night denied that a formal NSC meeting would be convened. But sources did not dispute that the security implications of allowing the secretive state a foothold in Britain s critical infrastructure is a factor in the decision. The issue overshadowing her first face-to-face talks with President Xi at the G20 summit in Hangzhou today, when she will try to persuade him to carry on investing in post-Brexit Britain.
Beijing is pushing for confirmation that the Prime Minister will agree the nuclear deal, which was originally signed by David Cameron and George Osborne last night hinted she does not fully trust China’s communist regime, as she headed for a showdown with the country’s leader over its involvement in Britain’s nuclear industry. Speaking to journalists on the flight to the eastern city of Hangzhou, Mrs May also indicated she will not pursue the craven approach adopted by predecessor towards the economic superpower in recent years.
Mrs May, seen disembarking in Hangzhou early this morning, has put the Hinkley Point project on hold pending a review
Mrs May confirmed she will not give President Xi an answer when they hold their first one-to-one talks today. Sources have previously suggested Mrs May is concerned not only by the enormous cost of the 18 billion Hinkley Point deal, but also by the prospect of China’s secretive government gaining a foothold in such a highly sensitive area.
Asked directly whether she trusts China’s autocratic communist regime, Mrs May ducked the question, saying: ‘Of course we have a relationship with them, we are working with them.
‘We have seen significant Chinese investment into the UK. What I want to do is build on that relationship, but I also want, here at the G20, to be able to build on relationships with other countries.’
Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne were accused of cosying up to China in a bid to forge strong economic links with its giant economy. Mrs May said she was still committed to pursuing the so-called ‘golden era’ of economic co-operation.
But she stressed repeatedly that she was equally keen to pursue closer economic ties with other major economies. Washington and Tokyo were both alarmed by the willingness of the Cameron regime to ingratiate itself with Beijing in return for economic favours. Campaigners also criticised the softly-softly approach to the Chinese regime’s appalling human rights record.
Sources suggested that while Mrs May wants to forge economic links with China, she is wary of getting too close – particularly if it risks alienating other potential trading partners, such as Japan and Australia.
Asked about Hinkley Point, Mrs May said she would not be rushed.
Mrs May has already met US President Barack Obama at the key summit in China
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