Jeremy Fleming, director of the Government Communications Headquarters of the British Intelligence Organization, delivered a speech on the 11th, attacking China using "financial and scientific forces" to manipulate strategically important technologies and pose a threat to global

[ Global Times report reporter Zhao Juezhang] Jeremy Fleming, director of the Government Communications Headquarters of the British Intelligence Organization, delivered a speech on the 11th, attacking China using "financial and scientific forces" to manipulate strategically important technologies and pose a threat to global security. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning clearly responded to this on the 11th, saying that these statements have no factual basis.

Mao Ning data picture. Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs website

At the annual security lecture held by the British think tank Royal Three Armed Forces Research Institute on the 11th, Fleming claimed that China is seeking to use digital currency , satellite systems and other technologies to strengthen its domestic control and enhance its influence abroad. The US "Political News Network" quoted the excerpt of the speech released to the media in advance by Fleming's office, saying, "Technology is no longer just an area of ​​opportunity, competition and cooperation, but also a battlefield of control, values ​​and influence."

According to foreign media reports, Fleming named the digital currency system launched by the People's Bank of China , saying that digital currency "introduces efficiency and novel settlement methods, which may allow China to escape some of the international sanctions that the Russian government is currently suffering." Bloomberg mentioned that China is leading the global competition for central bank digital currency and is conducting relevant tests in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. The People's Bank of China has also emphasized that digital RMB will fully respect privacy and personal information protection, and on this basis, it will prevent risks from being used by criminals.

Information Consumption Alliance Chairman Xiang Ligang html told the Global Times reporter on the 211th that the development of digital currency is the right of a sovereign state, and it is reasonable to enhance its own financial security through this technology. Xiang Ligang believes that Fleming's remarks themselves represent a "hegemonic thinking". "Why can some Western countries impose unilateral sanctions, but other countries cannot take precautions?"

In addition to digital currencies, Fleming also named China's Beidou satellite navigation system , saying that the system can be used to prevent opponents from entering space. He also claimed that the UK must continue to invest heavily in national security technologies such as quantum computing to resist China's dominance. Reuters said the above remarks were Fleming's "latest public warning" to the "China threat." Last year, he said that the West is facing a battle to ensure that China will not dominate important emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence , synthetic biology and genetics .

Regarding Fleming's speech, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said on the 11th that China develops science and technology to enable the Chinese people to live a better life, and does not target anyone, nor does it pose a threat. Adhering to the "China threat theory" and provoking confrontation and confrontation are both harmful to others and oneself.

Xiang Ligang also said that some Western politicians and media have never provided real evidence for the accusations against China, and they are all captivating the situation. China's technological development has not harmed the interests of other countries. Instead, it has helped consumers in some countries enjoy better and cheaper services by providing high-quality technologies and products.