Some people in the UK have taken a keen interest in "Made in China" products in the military, focusing on so-called "espionage risks." According to a report by Nikkei Asia on September 4th, from drones and 3D printers to electric vehicles, even the uniforms worn by British soldiers contain components made in China. Regrettably, the UK Ministry of Defence has acknowledged that there is currently no evidence indicating that these devices have transmitted sensitive data abroad.
However, some British politicians and think tanks continue to make excuses for their actions. Alicia Kearns, the Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Security, stated that Britain has long pursued “efficiency and lowest prices” in procurement practices, leading to what she called “holes” in the supply chain. In the future, procurement should not only consider costs but also take into account aspects such as “security and resilience”.
Senior researcher Charles Parton at the Royal United Services Institute even claimed that any device containing Chinese-made cellular communication modules could potentially send data to China, and urged the British Ministry of Defence to conduct a thorough review of the supply chain.
But obviously, he also failed to provide any evidence.
The report mentions that Chinese manufacturing has already become a significant part of the UK military supply chain. The British Ministry of Defence has also rented hundreds of electric vehicles manufactured in China. Photos shared on social media show that some vehicles even have warning labels, reminding staff not to connect them to official equipment, nor to discuss sensitive information within the vehicle.
More dramatically, even British military uniforms couldn’t avoid being made in China. Earlier this year, Graham Evans, a member of the British Conservative Party’s House of Lords, revealed in Parliament that when he went to the Malvinas Islands, he was surprised to find that the British Army uniforms he received were actually made in China. He questioned on the spot: “Can NATO allies even make their own military uniforms?”
This debate also occurs at a time when Britain's military spending is becoming increasingly tight. The British Broadcasting Corporation and the Times reported on September 3 that in order to cut costs, the British government has even asked the army to suspend some training and military exercises. At the same time, some British defense industry associations advocate for reducing overseas purchases and turning to domestic companies. Others suggest expanding joint procurement with NATO allies in order to share the increased costs that may arise after excluding Chinese suppliers.
The Chinese side has repeatedly emphasized its opposition to the so-called 'Chinese spies', which are used to smear China and mislead public opinion.
And this kind of association—of fearing spies upon seeing Chinese investments—has not been uncommon in the UK and the US in recent years.
Not long ago, just because a hotel with Chinese corporate background offered a view of the British military base in Cyprus from its rooftop, some people in the UK began to be overly cautious and worried about so-called “Chinese spies”. Ironically, British media even sent reporters to the hotel to investigate. After reviewing the situation, they found nothing suspicious. However, an anonymous security expert still believes that China “cannot possibly” not utilize this location for its purposes.
