The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has declined to release the full text of a green energy cooperation memorandum signed with China in March, a decision that has ignited concerns over transparency and national security. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband inked the agreement during a visit to China, marking the first such high-level engagement since 2017, yet the details remain undisclosed, contrasting with similar deals published with nations including Canada, Norway, and South Korea.

Miliband's visit, from March 13 to 17, included meetings with Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and Environment Minister Huang Runqiu, focusing on "energy and climate." Chinese state media reports indicated the agreement covered cooperation on "power grids, battery storage, offshore wind power, and carbon capture, utilisation and storage, as well as clean, low-carbon and renewable hydrogen." However, the UK government has only broadly described the memorandum as a commitment to "pragmatic engagement on the climate crisis, cooperating with China to reduce global emissions."

The lack of disclosure has fueled apprehension, particularly following warnings from Ministry of Defence officials regarding the potential for Chinese-supplied wind turbines to be used for espionage. This concern was recently highlighted in a government dispute over the Green Volt floating wind farm off Scotland, where Chinese firm Mingyang Smart Energy was selected to supply turbines, despite security objections.

Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho has publicly called for the immediate release of the agreement, stating, "Intelligence services have warned us about Chinese state-sponsored hackers infiltrating Western energy systems, so it is deeply concerning that Ed Miliband is refusing to publish the full text of his deal with China." She further urged Ofgem, the energy regulator, to be transparent about discussions held by its chief executive, Jonathan Brearley, who extended his stay in Beijing after Miliband's departure, utilizing temporary "burner" phones as a security precaution.

While the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero maintains that the MoU is not intended to encourage Chinese investment in UK critical national infrastructure, asserting it merely renews a decade-long partnership for sharing research and ideas, the ongoing opacity continues to draw criticism. The incident underscores the delicate balance the UK government navigates between fostering international collaboration on climate change and safeguarding national security interests in a rapidly evolving global energy landscape.