DEVELOPING: China Gains Access to UK's Sensitive Military Tech in Investment Deal, BBC Reports

Breaking News: China Gains Access to UK's Sensitive Military Tech in Investment Deal China has secured access to the UK's sensitive military technology through a series of investments worth tens of billions of pounds, according to a BBC Panorama investigation. The investments, valued at £45 billion at 2023 prices, were made in UK businesses and projects over the past century, with the majority of the spending occurring after a 2015 Chinese state directive aimed at making the country a global leader in high-tech industries. The UK has been the top destination for Chinese investments among G7 nations, relative to its population and economy, according to US-based research group AidData. This has led to the transfer of cutting-edge technology and skills to China, sparking concerns about national security. A former head of GCHQ has described the UK's approach to allowing access to strategically important industries as "far too free." The BBC has been given exclusive access to data collected by AidData, which tracks government spending overseas. The implications of this deal are still unfolding, and it remains to be seen how the UK government will respond to these revelations. This is a developing story, and we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. This is a developing story. Please check back for further updates.