UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has chastised China's premier for 'unacceptable' interference in British democracy, after a newspaper reported that a parliamentary researcher was arrested earlier this year on suspicion of spying for Beijing.
British PM Rishi Sunak chides China after report parliamentary staffer spied for BeijingRishi Sunak said he expressed "strong concerns" over the suspected interference to Chinese Premier Li Qiang.abc.net.
The newspaper said the suspect held a pass that allows full access to the parliament buildings and is issued to MPs, staff and journalists after a security vetting. "The so-called claim that China is suspected of 'stealing British intelligence' is completely fabricated and malicious slander," the embassy said on its website, urging relevant parties to stop anti-China political manipulation and "self-directed political farce".
Former UK Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said news of the March arrests "gives the lie to the government's attempt not to see China as a systemic threat".In November, the head of the MI5 domestic intelligence agency, Ken McCallum, said: "The activities of the Chinese Communist Party pose the most game-changing strategic challenge to the UK."
It alleged attorney Christine Lee was acting in coordination with the Chinese ruling party's United Front Work Department, an organisation known to exert Chinese influence abroad.