The U.S. has pressed the U.K. to take a harder line on Chinese involvement in critical infrastructure, warning that Chinese firms pose growing national-security risks across the Five Eyes network. A senior U.S. official said Britain should adopt a “zero-trust” stance toward Chinese companies in strategically sensitive sectors and move toward blanket exclusion.
Info via the UK Telegraph
The intervention follows an MI5 alert over Chinese espionage and renewed scrutiny of Chinese shareholdings in major U.K. assets, including Heathrow Airport. U.S. officials also highlighted China’s rapidly advancing cyber operations, citing the “Salt Typhoon” and “Volt Typhoon” breaches as evidence that Western infrastructure is increasingly vulnerable.
Washington is urging a more coordinated response among Five Eyes partners, arguing that fragmented national policies leave gaps Beijing can exploit.
