The former head of MI6 has told MPs that China could "switch off Britain's traffic lights and immobilise London" because its companies control crucial technology in the UK.
Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, and veteran diplomat Charles Parton, issued the stark warning during an event in Parliament.
The briefing, hosted by the Coalition on Secure Technology, highlighted concerns about Chinese dominance in microchips embedded in "internet of things" (IoT) technology.
Both experts cautioned that these devices could potentially be accessed by their manufacturers at any time, The Times reported.
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The former head of MI6 has warned of China's threat to UK roads
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Given that most are owned by Chinese companies with obligations to the Chinese Communist Party, this relationship could be exploited for spying or causing disruption.
Chinese-made cellular IoT modules (CIMs) are embedded in a wide range of everyday objects and infrastructure.
These devices are reportedly also present in critical infrastructure including traffic light systems and electric cars.
Charles Parton, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, noted that CIMs are also in systems including routers and financial terminals.
These modules serve as "gateways to computers" and connect devices through the internet, as well as allowing objects to transmit and receive information through computer networks.
Experts warn that the widespread presence of these Chinese-controlled modules creates significant security vulnerabilities.
According to sources at the briefing, one possible scenario included causing gridlock by using CIMs to "turn off the traffic light system".
Sir Richard Dearlove warned that CIMs in energy infrastructure could potentially shut down the national grid and cause blackouts.
He described Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles as "computers on wheels" that could be remotely reprogrammed at any time. Dearlove suggested there was potential to "immobilise London" through this technology.
The former MI6 chief emphasised that these vulnerabilities could be exploited if relations between the UK and China deteriorated.
An economic security review last year was told that electric vehicles could be controlled, adjusted and even stopped by manufacturers behind the CIMs technology.
MPs were urged to consider the implications of allowing Chinese dominance in these crucial technological areas.
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Sir Richard Dearlove has been critical of China's influence on the UK for years
PA
Experts stressed that these concerns would become increasingly relevant as more connected devices enter British homes and infrastructure.
