China has poured tens of billions of pounds into UK businesses and projects over the past two decades, with some of these investments granting access to advanced, military-grade technology, a BBC Panorama investigation has revealed.
Data shared exclusively with the BBC by US-based research group AidData shows that Chinese investments in the UK have reached around £45 billion ($59 billion) in 2023 prices. This surge was driven by a 2015 Chinese government directive aimed at positioning the country as a global leader in high-tech industries.
Among the G7 nations, the UK emerged as the most significant destination for Chinese funding relative to its population and economy. Experts warn, however, that this openness enabled China to gain access to critical technologies and expertise. A former head of GCHQ told Panorama that the UK had been “far too free in allowing access to strategically important industries.”
AidData, a research group at William & Mary University in Virginia, tracks global government spending and receives support from various governments and charitable foundations. Its findings indicate that certain Chinese state-backed investments were purely commercial, while others aligned closely with Beijing’s long-term strategic goals.
Also Read:
Empowering Strategic Growth: An Exclusive Conversation with Marc Snyderman
Gareth Hazelden: Shaping the Future of the Global Financial Landscape with Atlantic Capital Markets
