Posted on 20 Jul 2026
The Chinese company that formerly owned British Steel Ltd yesterday demanded compensation from the British government for investment losses following the nationalization of the manufacturer last week.
The British government took operational control of the company last year after Jingye Group Co (敬業集團) said that it was considering closing the blast furnaces at its Scunthorpe plant in northern England, the last in the UK to make “virgin steel” from raw materials.
Jingye said in a WeChat statement that the nationalization move tarnished the credibility of the British government, spooked international investors and caused great losses to the company’s operation and British taxpayers’ funds.
It also demanded that the UK government stop “trampling on international investment rules.”
The Chinese company announced it had initiated negotiation procedures under relevant bilateral investment agreements, reserving all rights, including to international arbitration.
Jingye said it would also represent British taxpayers seeking to hold the UK government and British Steel’s management legally liable.
However, it did not specify how it would handle the case.
The UK government last week said that an independent evaluation would be carried out to determine whether any compensation would be paid to Jingye.
The British Department for Business and Trade announced the move on Friday, saying it would save thousands of jobs and protect the UK’s national interest by ensuring a supply of domestically produced steel for major construction projects and the defense industry.
British Steel and its forebears have been making steel at Scunthorpe for more than 130 years, building on the UK’s development of improved steelmaking technology during the Industrial Revolution. The plant employs about 2,700 people.
Jingye bought British Steel in 2020 and said it saved the steel company from crisis.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday said the way the UK handles the issue would directly influence how Chinese investors view the British investment environment and the credibility of the British government.
“China urges the UK to earnestly respect market principles and the spirit of contract, and find solutions on compensation and other issues acceptable to both sides,” it said in a statement.
It added that China supports enterprises in safeguarding their legitimate rights through legal means.
Source:Taipei Times
