the times | Friday May 27 2022 2GMV2 21
News
A weapons expert funded by the Minis-
try of Defence has given talks in China
on his work developing advanced bal-
listic capabilities in Britain.
Clive Woodley, 67, was principal sci-
entist at the MoD-controlled security
company Qinetiq from 2001-18 and is a
visiting researcher at the Institute of
Shock Physics at Imperial College in
London.
Last October he gave a lecture at a
conference in east China dedicated to
discussing “a new chapter in the devel-
opment of artillery, shells and missiles”
that was attended by leading figures in
the Chinese weapons industry, accord-
ing to Unherd, an online magazine.
In 2017 he was invited to the Beijing
Institute of Technology by the State
Key Laboratory of Explosion Science
and Technology to give a talk about
“internal ballistics at Qinetiq”.
Woodley “gave a serious and detailed
answer” to questions and “had a lively
discussion with teachers and students”,
the laboratory said. He conducted “in-
depth research” on explosive science
with leading Chinese academics linked
to the ordnance industry.
Woodley chairs conferences com-
mitted to exploring similar themes. He
co-chaired the first international con-
ference on defence technology in Bei-
jing in 2018, with Changgen Feng, an
eminent defence scientist. Topics dis-
cussed included electromagnetic
CPL ADAM FLETCHER/ROYAL AIR FORCEChinese learn from
British arms expert
launching and impact mechanics.
Some of his research was funded by the
Defence Science and Technology Lab-
oratory, which is part of the MoD.
A government source working on
university policy told The Times: “It’s
insane that we are doing nothing to stop
the ludicrous practice of letting hostile
nations get hold of our best tech.”
Charles Parton, a former diplomat
who worked in China for 22 years, said
such action “exemplifies a truly danger-
ous form of co-operation with China.
This is probably more of a threat than
straightforward espionage.” He added:
“There is no legal sanction to prevent or
punish anyone helping a hostile power
to sharpen its hostility in this way.”
Qinetiq said it had “robust processes
to vet our people and their activities
both within and outside the business”.
The government said: “We have
robust procedures to make sure re-
search contracts do not contribute to
overseas military programmes and that
individuals or organisations with
foreign-state links cannot access our
sensitive research.”
Woodley is not a paid staff member at
Imperial and did not conduct research
there. He said last night: “The MoD was
aware of my activities.” The college
said: “Imperial conducts no classified
research and we have robust relation-
ship review policies and due diligence
processes in place, with our commit-
ments to UK national security given
the utmost importance.”Charlie Parker, George Greenwood
Russian sanctions could sink chippies
Fish and chip shops could go out of
business if sanctions are introduced on
cod and haddock imported from
Russia, owners fear.
A 35 per cent tariff on white fish from
Russia had been expected in March as
part of the UK’s response to the inva-
sion of Ukraine but has so far been left
out of sanctions. “It is included on a listof Russian products we’ve said we
intend to introduce tariffs on,” a gov-
ernment source told The Daily Tele-
graph. “There are no timescales on
when we introduce the tariffs but we’ve
made it very clear we intend to intro-
duce them.”
About 30 per cent of Britain’s cod and
haddock is imported from Russia. Fish
and chip shops already face spiralling
costs, particularly for cooking oil. Halfof Britain’s sunflower oil was imported
from Ukraine before the invasion.
It is estimated that a third of the
country’s takeaways could close if there
are shortages of essential ingredients.
Andrew Crook, president of the
National Federation of Fish Friers, said
that tariffs on Russian white fish would
“pile more pressure on an industry
already feeling the full force of
inflationary costs”.George SandemanEarning their stripes The Red Arrows practise an aerobatic display during training, while based at Tanagra airbase, Greece