Britain Approves Controversial Chinese-Financed Nuclear-Reactor, With a Catch

British Prime Minister Theresa May hesitantly agreed to a nuclear power plant, Britain’s first in decades, financed in part by China with a controlling stake by EDF, a French firm. May, who came to power after the Brexit referendum in June, and others in her staff have expressed concern that a large Chinese investment in British energy could leave Britain vulnerable should geostrategic interests of the two countries diverge. May’s predecessor David Cameron had nearly completed the project before leaving office. May’s government imposed new conditions – EDF cannot sell its controlling stake – along with new rules for future foreign investment in critical British infrastructure projects. The deal exemplifies ever-increasing opportunities for strategic participation between nations as well as internal conflicts. British labor groups support the deal, while environmental groups oppose it. Small interest groups within a single country now must extend their activism on a global scale. – YaleGlobal