China now controls so much of the UK’s crucial technology that there is a real risk that it could “immobilise London”, MPs have been warned. There is even the potential for China to switch off Britain’s traffic lights.
Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, and Charles Parton, a veteran diplomat, have said that Chinese companies dominate the industry of microchips that are embedded in technology known as “the internet of things” (IoT). These devices can be found in appliances and vehicles that transmit and receive information through computer networks, known as Chinesemade cellular IoT modules (CIMs). This includes devices such as fridges and air fryers in our homes, up to electric cars and traffic light systems.
Sir Richard and Mr Parton warned MPs that these “gateways to computers” were everywhere and potentially could be accessed by their manufacturer at any time. The pair were in attendance at an event in Parliament hosted by the Coalition on Secure Technology, The Telegraph reported.
Due to the fact that much of this technology is owned by Chinese companies, they have obligations to the Chinese Communist Party(CCP) and a role to play in national security.
The former head of MI6 and the veteran diplomat warned that this relationship could be exploited for the use of spying devices or cause disruption.
According to Mr Parton, possible scenarios include causing gridlock by using CMIs to “turn off the traffic light system,” a source at the briefing on Monday night said.
Sir Richard also warned about the potential for a shutdown of the National Grid and blackouts, due to the presence of CIMs in energy infrastructure. He said that Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles were essentially computers on wheels that could be remotely reprogrammed at any time and suggested that there was the potential to “immobilise London”.
The CCP also wishes to make China the world’s leading superpower by 2050 and is set on using non-military means to do so, making science and technology the “battlefield”, the former head of MI6 warned.
Intelligence officials have repeatedly warned of Beijing’s increased threat, while a report said last year that China had infiltrated virtually every sector of the British economy. An economic security review carried out by parliament last year was told that electric vehicles could be controlled, adjusted and ultimately even stopped by manufacturers behind the CIMs technology.
According to a previous warning by Dearlove, China could exploit this if its relationship with the UK deteriorated badly.