UK Kicks Out China From Nuclear Project After Rishi Sunak Says 'Golden Era' Between The 2 Nations Is Over

On November 29th, UK decided to remove China General Nuclear (CGN) from the construction of its new Sizewell C nuclear power station. UK has decided to take a joint stake with France's EDF instead. 

Rishi Sunak's Conservative government has stripped CGN of its 20 per cent stake at Sizewell. A joint venture with France is now on the cards, in which UK will invest £700 million and France's EDF will invest £700 million as well. 

The announcement came on the heels Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's speech in which he said that the "golden era" of UK-China links was "over", adding that China posed a "systemic challenge" to UK interests and values, something he said to reporters on his way to the G20. meeting as well. 

This decision comes at a time of diplomatic row  between China and UK because of assault on BBC journalist named Edward Lawrence. Lawrence was covering the widespread protests in China and he was reportedly "beaten and kicked" by Chinese police.

“China always welcomes foreign journalists to report in the country in accordance with the law and has provided lots of assistance. At the same time, foreign journalists should comply with Chinese regulations when they are reporting in China," said China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian. 

“There can be absolutely no excuse whatsoever for a journalist that was simply covering the process going on for being beaten by police,” said UK Business Secretary Grant Shapps.

British PM Rishi Sunak talked about the treatment of BBC journalist and criticised China's attempt to crush the protests and China's treatment of people in Hong Kong. Britain has granted a path to. citizenship for many residents of Hong Kong and many Hong Kongers are moving to UK, in search of a new home. 

Sizewell C is under development on the Suffolk coast of eastern England. It will comprise two European Pressurized Reactors. This facility will be able to power the equivalent of about 6 million homes. It is expected to start producing electricity from 2035.

Nuclear and renewables, especially offshore wind power, are critical to ramp up Britain's energy security. Before the Russia Ukraine war, UK relied on energy exports from France to meet up with the surge in demand during winter. France has been Europe's largest energy exporter for quite some time. Offshore wind power have also played an important role during the winter. Now, France itself is struggling to supply energy to its citizens and the offshore wind power is not generating necessary power because the wind flow is precariously low. 

EDF, which is in the process of being fully nationalised amid the region's worsening energy crisis, is still working with CGN to build Hinkley Point power station in southwestern England. Hinkley will be Britain's first new nuclear power plant in more than two decades and aims to provide 7% of UK power needs. The nuclear power plant in southwestern England has been blighted by repeated delays and soaring costs. 

It is unclear if UK will kick out CGN from the Hinkley project as well. Last month, UK ordered a Chinese-owned company to divest most of Britain's biggest semiconductor maker – a leading industrial asset – after a national security probe.