PA MediaThe Chinese embassy has told Britain to “stop causing trouble” after a businessman was banned from the country for allegedly spying for China.
The revelations about Yang Tengbo, who denies wrongdoing, and his links to Prince Andrew, have sparked renewed calls for Britain to declare China a national security threat.
The issue poses a dilemma for the government, which is hoping to strengthen ties with China to boost economic growth and help tackle shared issues like climate change.
A number of senior Conservatives in the House of Commons on Monday called for tougher measures to protect the UK from covert Chinese influence.
The government has decided to introduce Foreign Influence Registration Scheme The following summer, after the previous Conservative government legislated for it.
Individuals and organizations working for a foreign power will be required to declare any political lobbying.
The scheme will have two tiers, with countries described in the “better tier” requiring registration of a wider range of activities “where it is necessary to protect the UK’s security interests”.
But implementation has been delayed, with the measures now set to take effect next summer.
Conservative former home secretary Sylla Broerman claimed the scheme was “ready to go” in time for July’s general election and was among several Tory MPs who called for China to be better placed.
Meanwhile, former security minister Tom Tugendhat said MI5 had advised the scheme was “unviable” if China was not in good shape.
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who has been given the same approval by China as Tugendhat and is one of the country’s most vocal critics, said there should be “no further delay” in implementing the scheme. .
He said Mr Yang was not a “lone wolf” but one of thousands who infiltrated UK institutions.
When the party was in government, the Conservatives were divided over whether to label China a security threat.
Powers to introduce a foreign influence registration scheme were part of laws passed in July 2023 but were not brought in until the general election a year later.
Speaking on Monday, Security Minister Dan Jarvis insisted the scheme was not ready when Labor took power and the government now plans to introduce the regulations to Parliament before its summer start in the new year. is
However, he declined to confirm whether China would be better off, saying only that decisions would be based on “robust security and intelligence analysis.”
SupplySuch a move is likely to provoke a backlash from China at a time when the UK government is seeking a more stable relationship.
Last month Sir Keir Starmer met President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro – the first time a British prime minister has met the Chinese leader in person since 2018.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is also due to visit Beijing next year to discuss economic cooperation with her Chinese counterpart.
It comes after a period of strained relations between the two countries, with tensions over issues including China’s treatment of the Uyghur minority group in Xinjiang and pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong.
On Monday, Sir Keir said he was “concerned” about the challenge posed by China but reiterated the government’s position that cooperation on issues such as trade, climate change and human rights is essential.
As one of the UK’s biggest trading partners, any deterioration in relations with China could be a threat to the government’s ability to boost domestic economic growth. Can affect the target.
Banks including HSBC and Standard Chartered have reportedly privately expressed concern about the potential impact of China’s upgrade.
According to Bloombergexecutives fear it could disrupt business and trigger negative publicity if they are forced to announce the activity.
China has strongly denied the spying claims and accused some MPs of trying to “smear” the country.
But on Tuesday, UK judges issued another injunction against an alleged Chinese agent, Christine Lee. Upholding MI5’s decision, it warned that it had infiltrated Parliament..
With the decision on whether to label China a national security threat, the ongoing dispute could further damage Britain’s efforts to mend ties.
