Ed Miliband is set to embark on a crucial trip to China to discuss enhanced energy cooperation, despite mounting apprehensions surrounding Beijing’s involvement in British infrastructure, particularly in the realm of wind farms.

The Energy Secretary is scheduled to depart on March 17 and will engage in discussions aimed at securing potential investments in UK energy projects. During his visit, he is expected to meet with Wang Hongzhi, the head of China’s National Energy Administration, as reported by Reuters.

This trip marks the third occasion that a cabinet minister, following Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, has visited Beijing as part of Labour’s efforts to forge stronger ties with the second-largest economy in the world.

Mr. Miliband’s department spokesperson refrained from commenting on the speculations surrounding the visit. The visit comes at a crucial juncture as the Energy Secretary endeavors to attract investments for various projects including wind farms, solar farms, and battery storage facilities in the UK, in line with the government’s commitment to establishing a clean energy system by 2030.

However, amidst these efforts to bolster diplomatic relations, concerns have been raised regarding Chinese involvement in a significant wind farm project, particularly the Green Volt floating offshore wind farm off the coast of Scotland. The selection of Mingyang Smart Energy, a Chinese-based company, to provide turbines for the project has raised alarms within the Ministry of Defence. Officials have expressed apprehensions about potential security risks associated with Chinese involvement, citing concerns about espionage and unauthorized access to critical infrastructure.

During his visit to Beijing, Mr. Miliband is expected to revive discussions under the UK-China Energy Dialogue, focusing on clean energy technologies, civil nuclear energy, power market reforms, and third-country activities. However, it is noteworthy that nuclear energy cooperation will not be on the agenda, following the UK government’s decision to limit Chinese involvement in nuclear power projects after Hinkley Point C.

Labour officials aim to mend UK-China relations, which have witnessed fluctuations in recent years. While relations were described as entering a “golden age” during David Cameron’s tenure as prime minister, subsequent concerns about economic security and cyber threats have strained ties between the two nations. Rishi Sunak, the current Prime Minister, has labeled Beijing as the “greatest state-based threat” to the UK’s economic security, underscoring the challenges in navigating the complex dynamics of the UK-China relationship.