Many of the debates inside the Conservative party about how western democracies should handle China are entirely common across Europe and the US, but somehow they have been conducted in a more heated and personalised way. One reason may be the confused and slow leadership on China shown by the government, symbolised by the refusal to follow Germany in publishing a China strategy. Others blame the entrenched factionalist political culture created by Brexit, and the narcissism of small differences. But the revelations that someone under investigation for allegedly being a…
Tag: UK news
Sunak says he told China actions to undermine UK democracy are ‘completely unacceptable’ – video
Rishi Sunak has said he told the Chinese premier, Li Qiang, at the G20 summit that actions aiming to undermine British democracy are unacceptable. The prime minister said he was emphatic that ‘actions which seek to undermine British democracy are completely unacceptable and will never be tolerated’ The Guardian
Forget ‘Chinese spies’, trade not espionage should be Britain’s main concern with China | Simon Jenkins
Today’s claim that a Chinese spy in his 20s cruising the Westminster drinks circuit might pose a threat to the British state is absurd. MPs always overstate their role in foreign affairs. Boris Johnson, back in 2017 when he was foreign secretary, might have felt a macho thrill from sending an aircraft carrier to the South China Sea – where it could be sunk in an hour – but Britain’s defences are no more vulnerable to Chinese attack than China’s are to Britain. It is all defence lobby hyperventilation. Linking…
China’s alleged spy researcher in UK parliament – what we know so far
Westminster is in uproar after the revelation that a parliamentary researcher in contact with a series of senior Conservative MPs has been arrested for allegedly spying for China. Here is what we know – and don’t know – so far. What are the allegations? That the man, a British national in his 20s who worked in Westminster and had a parliamentary pass, is alleged to have spied for China. He was arrested in March in Edinburgh under the Official Secrets Act, with another man, in his 30s, detained in Oxfordshire.…
UK parliamentary researcher arrested for alleged Chinese spying says he is innocent
A parliamentary researcher arrested on suspicion of spying for China has insisted he is “completely innocent”. The man said he had spent his career highlighting the “challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist party”. The arrest under the Official Secrets Act led to Rishi Sunak confronting the Chinese premier, Li Qiang, at the G20 summit on Sunday over what he described as an “unacceptable” interference in democracy. In a statement released through his lawyers, the researcher – who has not been officially named by police and was not named…
China tells UK to ‘stop spreading false information’ amid spying allegations – video
Beijing has rejected allegations that it spied on the UK’s parliament, after the arrest of a man accused of spying. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson told London to stop ‘its anti-China political manipulation and malicious smear’. A man who works as a parliamentary researcher with close ties to senior Conservatives was arrested on Sunday under the Official Secrets Act The Guardian
Badenoch says it would be mistake to call China a ‘foe’ as spy suspect arrest revives Tory calls to toughen approach – UK politics live
Good morning. One of the many aspects of politics that has changed dramatically over the past decade is the way the government views China. David Cameron came to power determined to establish warm relations with Beijing, but in recent years relations have deteriorated considerably and a Conservative government that views China with considerable suspicion is being urged by some of its hawkish backbenchers to go much further, and to treat it as a hostile opponent. The revelation yesterday that a parliamentary researcher linked to the Conservative has been arrested on…
China accuses UK of ‘slander’ over arrest of parliamentary researcher on suspicion of spying
Beijing has labelled as “malicious slander” and a “political farce” the scandal surrounding the arrest of a man in London on suspicion of spying for the Chinese government. On Sunday it emerged that a parliamentary researcher with links to senior Conservatives and potential access to sensitive information had been arrested over allegations of spying for China. The man, who is in his 20s and was arrested in March along with another person, is known to have held a parliamentary pass, allowing him unescorted access to large parts of the Westminster…
MPs express anger after arrest of parliamentary researcher over alleged spying for China
MPs have reacted with alarm after it emerged that a parliamentary researcher with links to senior Conservatives and potential access to sensitive information had been arrested over allegations of spying for China. The man, who is in his 20s and was arrested in March along with another person, is known to have held a parliamentary pass, allowing him unescorted access to large parts of the Westminster estate. MPs said there was a need to tighten up the procedures for such passes to be issued, with some expressing anger that the…
Rishi Sunak says he raised ‘strong concerns’ with Beijing over alleged spying on parliament – video
The prime minister said he raised ‘strong concerns’ over alleged Chinese interference in the UK’s parliament in a meeting with the Chinese premier, Li Qiang, following the arrest of two men in connection with allegations that a parliamentary researcher spied for Beijing. Speaking from Delhi, where he was attending a G20 summit, Sunak said: ‘I raised a range of different concerns that we have an areas of disagreement and in particular my very strong concerns about any interference in our parliamentary democracy, which is obviously unacceptable’ The Guardian