Secrets of Shell and Rolls-Royce come under attack from China

Rolls-Royce and Royal Dutch Shell have fallen victim to Chinese espionage attacks, The Times has learnt.

Sustained spying assaults on Britain


…Shell, an Anglo-Dutch group, had to deal with a spying ring in Houston, Texas, security sources told The Times. Chinese nationals working for the company were preyed upon by state-backed operatives hoping to obtain confidential pricing information for its operations in Africa, the sources said.

African countries have been targeted by international oil companies in the commercial battle to tap into vast new oil reserves needed to support both the developed economies of the West and the rapidly expanding economy of China, which has vast coal reserves but little oil and gas.

Times of London