Concerns about national security are mounting in response to the Scottish Government’s proposal to allocate £60 million to two Chinese firms for establishing wind farm factories in Scotland.
Christine Jardine, a Scottish Liberal Democrat MP, has urged both the UK and Scottish governments to approach these deals with caution, particularly questioning the security measures that will be in place for equipment produced at these facilities.
Mingyang Smart Energy, China’s premier offshore wind turbine manufacturer, plans to build a factory near Inverness to produce turbine blades essential for the UK’s offshore wind farm expansion.
This venture is expected to generate hundreds of jobs. Orient Cable, a specialist in subsea cables for offshore wind farms, also intends to commence operations in Scotland by 2026.
Defence experts express concerns that China could potentially exploit these facilities to disrupt the UK’s energy supply during diplomatic conflicts.
Ms. Jardine highlighted the precedent set by President Vladimir Putin, who leveraged Germany’s reliance on Russian gas to destabilise Western energy supplies during the onset of the Ukrainian conflict, as a potential model for Chinese action.
Ms. Jardine emphasized the need for stringent safeguards, suggesting that the equipment should only be operable locally to ensure the UK retains control and prevent any remote disablement by China.
This concern follows the UK government’s decision to exclude Huawei from the UK’s 5G network over security fears, reflecting ongoing apprehensions about Chinese involvement in critical national infrastructure.
Labour faces criticism for fostering closer business relationships with Beijing, which some argue might compromise the UK’s security. Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6, also warned this month against the UK’s reliance on Chinese energy infrastructure.
A spokesperson for the UK Government noted that while specific cases couldn’t be discussed, investments in the energy sector undergo rigorous national security evaluations.
The Scottish Government, in coordination with the Scottish National Investment Bank and enterprise agencies, is meticulously evaluating potential investments in infrastructure, ensuring due diligence and comprehensive assessment criteria are applied to each case.
