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War in Ukraine: No sign Russia considering nuclear weapons - GCHQ Chinese technology poses major risk - GCHQ Chief
(about 3 hours later)
Sir Jeremy Fleming will warn against buying in Chinese technology with "hidden costs"
Chinese technology poses a major risk to the UK's security and prosperity, the head of GCHQ has said.
In a lecture, Sir Jeremy Fleming said China's leadership was using technology to secure control at home and abroad.
He argued that this was an urgent problem that needed to be addressed by the UK and allies.
He also said Russia's military was exhausted but there were no signs yet of nuclear weapons use.
China has deliberately and patiently set out to gain "strategic advantage by shaping the world's technology ecosystem", the head of the intelligence agency told an audience at the Royal United Service Institute for its annual security lecture.
Sir Jeremy argued the Chinese Communist Party was aiming to manipulate the technology that underpins people's lives to embed its influence at home and abroad and provide opportunities for surveillance.
He warned China was seeking to create "client economies and governments" by exporting technology to countries around the world, and said these countries risked "mortgaging the future" by buying in Chinese technology with "hidden costs".
He pointed to a series of examples including:
China's development of the BeiDou satellite system - a rival to the established GPS network which he said had been built into exports to more than 120 countries. He claimed it could be used to track individuals or combined with plans to knock out other countries' satellites in the event of a conflict
New standards for the internet proposed by China which would embed greater government control
Plans for Chinese digital currencies which he suggested were a sign of Beijing seeking to learn lessons from Russia's experience and insulate itself from the impact of sanctions.
But the intelligence chief said he would not stop children using TikTok - which is owned by Chinese firm ByteDance - although he said young people should be more aware of their personal data and how it could be shared.
"No, I wouldn't (stop children from using TikTok), but I would speak to my child about the way in which they think about their personal data on their device," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme in advance of the lecture.
"I think it's really important from a very early age that we understand that there is no free good here. When we are using these services we are exchanging our data for that and if it's proportionate and we're happy with the way that data is safeguarded then that's great.
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"Make the most of that, make those videos, use TikTok - but just think before you do," he added.
Chinese control of future technology is not inevitable though, he said, adding: "Our future strategic tech advantage rests on what we do as a community next."
Sir Jeremy, who runs the agency which monitors communications and cyberspace, also called for a "grown-up" conversation about collaboration with China at UK universities.
There has been controversy over some educational institutions carrying out joint projects with Chinese counterparts with defence or surveillance ties.
He said the UK should continue to welcome students from China but "be really clear on the areas of technology where we will require additional safeguards". Areas like artificial intelligence and quantum computing were particularly important, he told the audience.
His remarks also addressed Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He said Russia's military was "exhausted" and that it was running out of supplies and ammunition.
A destroyed tank near Izyum in the Kharkiv area of UkraineA destroyed tank near Izyum in the Kharkiv area of Ukraine
There are no current signs that Russia is considering the use of nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war, the head of GCHQ has said. He argued that the mobilisation of prisoners and inexperienced men "speaks of a desperate situation" - and criticised President Putin as making mistakes.
Like other US and western officials recently, Sir Jeremy Fleming did not suggest there had been any signs of suspicious activity.
Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, Sir Jeremy warned that any talk of nuclear weapons was "very dangerous".
GCHQ would hope to see "indicators" if Russia planned to use them, he said.
"Any talk of nuclear weapons is very dangerous and we need to be very careful of how we are talking about that.
"It's clear to me that whilst we might not like and in many ways abhor the ways the Russian military machine and President Putin are conducting this war, they are staying within the doctrine that we understand for their use, including for nuclear weapons."
He added: "I'm sure Putin's worried about the dangers of escalation. He thinks about those in different terms. But I think it is a sign that he has not reached for these other forms of waging war."
Could Russia use tactical nuclear weapons?
In a speech on Tuesday afternoon, the head of the intelligence agency also said that Ukraine was turning the tide against "exhausted" Russian forces.
He said President Vladimir Putin's decision-making had proved "flawed".
"We know - and Russian military commanders on the ground know - that their supplies and munitions are running out," Sir Jeremy said in his speech at the annual Royal United Services Institute security lecture.
He argued that the mobilisation of prisoners and inexperienced men "speaks of a desperate situation" - and directly criticised President Putin as making mistakes.
Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme about the state of the Russian military, Sir Jeremy said it was "running short of munitions" and "is certainly running short of friends".Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme about the state of the Russian military, Sir Jeremy said it was "running short of munitions" and "is certainly running short of friends".
"The word I have used is desperate," he said. "We can see that desperation at many levels inside Russian society and Russia's military machine." He said that Russian missile strikes in recent days were not an escalation in terms of the types of weapons being used.
But he warned that the missile attacks on targets across Ukraine on Monday showed Russia was still "very capable" of causing damage.But he warned that the missile attacks on targets across Ukraine on Monday showed Russia was still "very capable" of causing damage.
He added: "Russia's military machine can launch weapons, it has deep stocks and expertise. And yet, it is very broadly stretched in Ukraine."
'No indicators' Putin considering nuclear weapons - GCHQ chief
'No indicators' Putin considering nuclear weapons - GCHQ chief
The intelligence chief also asserted that the UK and its allies are at a defining moment when it comes to China.
The director of the intelligence, cyber and security agency said the costs to Russia of the war in Ukraine - in terms of both people and equipment - were "staggering" as early gains were being reversed.
He said: "With little effective internal challenge, Putin's decision-making has proved flawed. Yesterday's attacks in Kyiv and across Ukraine are another example. It's a high-stakes strategy that is leading to strategic errors in judgement."
Sir Jeremy also claimed the Russian people are now starting to understand the problems caused by what he described as Putin's "war of choice".
Shock and horror after Russia's wave of strikes across UkraineShock and horror after Russia's wave of strikes across Ukraine
Who - or what - blew up the Crimean bridge?Who - or what - blew up the Crimean bridge?
Russian hawks celebrate deadly response to Crimea bridge attackRussian hawks celebrate deadly response to Crimea bridge attack
"They're seeing just how badly Putin has misjudged the situation," he said. Could Russia use tactical nuclear weapons?
"They're fleeing the draft, realising they can no longer travel. They know their access to modern technologies and external influences will be drastically restricted." He added: "Russia's military machine can launch weapons, it has deep stocks and expertise. And yet, it is very broadly stretched in Ukraine."
In a speech in March, Sir Jeremy said intelligence had showed some Russian soldiers in Ukraine had refused to carry out orders, sabotaged their own equipment and accidentally shot down one of their own aircraft. On concerns over the use of tactical nuclear weapons, he said in response to questions after his lecture that any talk of their use was "extremely dangerous" but that their use still appeared "hopefully a long way off".
Sir Jeremy Fleming will warn against buying in Chinese technology with "hidden costs" He also said he believed the UK and its allies would have a "good chance" of spotting any preparations, although there were never any guarantees.
The bulk of his lecture on Tuesday focused on China. He described the UK as being at a "sliding door" moment in which different paths taken will define the future. 'No indicators' Putin considering nuclear weapons - GCHQ chief
He argued the Chinese Communist Party was aiming to manipulate the technology that underpins people's lives to embed its influence at home and abroad and provide opportunities for surveillance. 'No indicators' Putin considering nuclear weapons - GCHQ chief
But the intelligence chief said he would not stop children using TikTok - which is owned by Chinese firm ByteDance - but said young people should be more aware of their personal data and how it could be shared.
"No, I wouldn't (stop children from using TikTok), but I would speak to my child about the way in which they think about their personal data on their device," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"I think it's really important from a very early age that we understand that there is no free good here. When we are using these services we are exchanging our data for that and if it's proportionate and we're happy with the way that data is safeguarded then that's great.
"Make the most of that, make those videos, use TikTok - but just think before you do," he added.
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During Tuesday's speech, he also warned that China was seeking to create "client economies and governments" by exporting technology to countries around the world, and said these countries risked "mortgaging the future" by buying in Chinese technology with "hidden costs".
He said this included areas like: new standards for the internet which could provide tracking methods and greater government control; Chinese digital currencies - which could be used to monitor the transactions of users and try to evade the type of sanctions imposed on Russia; and plans for a Chinese satellite system, citing fears it could be used to track individuals.
Chinese control of these areas is not inevitable, he said, adding: "Our future strategic tech advantage rests on what we do as a community next."