UK ministers used national security powers to intervene in eight transactions involving Chinese-linked investment in British companies in the past year, underlining their concern over the potential for Beijing to gain influence over vital industries.
Figures published by the Cabinet Office on Tuesday showed that 866 deals were referred to the government under the National Security and Investment Act in the year to March 31, 2023.
Introduced in 2021, the law is designed to protect British interests in 17 sectors, including energy, defence and communications. It gives the government powers to block investments deemed to pose a threat to national security or to require remedies to protect the UK’s interests.