Increased Chinese investment in technology-sensitive sectors in Europe in recent times
Brussels … News Time
The Western Defense Alliance NATO believes that the recent surge in Chinese investment in technology-sensitive sectors in Europe could be detrimental to European security. According to media reports, John Sears, the former head of the British intelligence agency M-16, said that protecting Western technology from Chinese companies has become very important. He added that this could not be taken as a threat to the former Soviet Union during the Cold War era, but competition for control over technology is intensifying. Along with the statement from the former British intelligence chief, reports have emerged that the UK-based semiconductor chip designer company Imagine Technologies plans to relocate its office to China. The company was bought by a private equity company in 2017 with the support of the Chinese government.
On the other hand, European countries’ economic ties with China are also moving at a time when the economy has grown. In this context, the European Union and the Western Defense Alliance NATO warned that they should stop the Chinese chain under which major European companies are being bought. On this occasion, the Defense Ministers also discussed Article 3 of the NATO Agreement. This clause covers the sale of sensitive equipment, as well as key industries during the crisis. For this reason, the secretary-general of NATO, Romania’s deputy from Romania, said that governments knew which industries are of a strategic nature and must be protected in every possible way. Experts observing European conditions and events believe that Chinese economic activity has increased in Europe in recent years and this could be a problem for the continent.
