UK Security Officials Reportedly Proposed Drastic Measures
The UK government under the former Conservative administration reportedly considered destroying a data center in London after it was acquired by an entity with links to China, according to a Bloomberg investigation. Sources indicate that ministers “briefly proposed a plan to destroy the data center before it was made secure in a different way,” though what exactly “destroy” meant in this context remains unspecified.
Alleged Security Breach and Government Response
According to reports, the data center contained sensitive government information, and its acquisition by a Chinese-linked entity raised immediate security concerns. The report states that government officials considered extreme measures to prevent potential espionage, though analysts suggest alternative approaches like removing government servers could have been pursued instead.
Broader Context of Chinese Espionage Allegations
These revelations come amid growing concerns about Chinese influence operations in the UK. The Spectator, in its coverage of Chinese espionage, quoted a source describing the data center sale as a “stratospheric fuck-up” that potentially allowed “Beijing to steal a goldmine of secret information.” This follows the abrupt dismissal of a trial against two British men accused of spying for China.
Pattern of Alleged Information Access
Bloomberg’s investigation reportedly found that China has routinely accessed UK government information classified up to “secret” level over at least the past decade. Sources indicate that while top secret information remained secure, medium-level classification materials on government servers were compromised. These claims align with recent statements from Dominic Cummings, former Chief Adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who told The Times that China had obtained “vast amounts” of classified government information.
International Security Implications
The reported incident reflects broader global concerns about foreign ownership of critical infrastructure. As seen in other international developments, such as Austria’s VIG acquiring Nürnberger and business groups challenging visa policies, cross-border ownership arrangements continue to raise security and regulatory questions. Meanwhile, financial market stability remains sensitive to such geopolitical developments.
Ongoing Investigations and Government Scrutiny
Security analysts suggest the data center incident represents just one aspect of broader concerns about foreign access to sensitive government systems. The report states that while the immediate threat was apparently neutralized through unspecified alternative security measures, the episode has prompted increased scrutiny of foreign ownership in critical national infrastructure sectors.
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