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CHINA Cyber Security Information Sharing Partnership, a joint industry and Government initiative set up to exchange cyber threat information in real time, in a secure and confidential manner.

Investigating the broader Chinese threat to science and technology (of which Chinese targeting of the Civil Nuclear and Energy sectors would form a part) is a key priority for MI5 ***. ***. When we asked whether other powers were required to respond to the threat posed, MI5 told us that the forthcoming Counter-State Threat Bill would give it:

''more teeth than we have at the moment to be able to go after individual recruitments in the same way that the FBI indictment … gives American colleagues. So I think there is a gap there and we are looking for that legislation to help us plug it and that will be very helpful. It will take us away from having to prove OSA [Official Secrets Act] links to an ancient piece of legislation.''

The Counter-State Threat Bill was subject to a public consultation that closed on 22 July 2021. Our concerns about the slow progress being made on this legislation are set out in Part One of the Report.

***

Although Chinese involvement in, and control over, UK nuclear power stations is deeply concerning, it offers only a small snapshot of the attempt to gain control over a range of sectors, and technologies, by an increasingly assertive China. The Government should commission an urgent review to examine and report on the extent to which Chinese involvement in the sector should be minimised, if not excluded.