After the arrest of a man suspected of spying for Beijing, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was concerned about possible ” China’s interference “. On Monday, September 11, Beijing rejected these accusations and denounced a “ malicious denigration “.
2 mins
The tone has risen between London and Beijing since the announcement, by the British police, of the arrest in March of a man in his twenties – whose identity remains unknown to this day – at his home in Edinburgh, Scotland, for espionage. The daily Times indicates that he was “ employed as a researcher » in the Westminster Parliament by Alicia Kearns, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons. He was thus in contact with the conservatives in power and he was “ Closely linked » to Tom Tugendhat, Secretary of State for Security.
The individual lived and worked in China, and the United Kingdom authorities fear that he was recruited by Chinese intelligence, explains our correspondent Émeline Vin in London. According to several parliamentary sources, the alleged spy had described MPs critical of Beijing as “ extremists ” and D’ ” outrageous “.
Sunday September 10, the day after the first revelations of this affair, Rishi Sunak took advantage of the G20 summit in New Delhi to call on his Chinese counterpart, Li Qiang, present in India in place of President Xi Jinping. The British Prime Minister expressed his “pdeep concern about Chinese interference in British parliamentary democracy “.
China denounces “ anti-Chinese maneuvers “, the accused denies any espionage
China responded to the British accusation on Monday September 11. And it is somewhat brittle. “ The alleged claim that China is spying on the UK is completely baseless and China strongly rejects it “, said Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “ We urge the British side to stop spreading false information and end its anti-China political maneuvering and malicious smear “, she added.
In a statement released by his lawyers, the man accused of espionage, still anonymous, said: feeling compelled to respond to media accusations that (he is) a ‘Chinese spy’ “. He speaks of “ incorrect information ” And ” extravagant “. “ It is essential that it be known that I am completely innocent. I have spent my career trying to educate others about the challenge and threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party “, he insists again, deploring in passing accusations going “ against everything that (I) represent “.
This espionage affair comes at a time when certain British MPs, also sanctioned by the Chinese regime, accuse Rishi Sunak’s government of complacency towards China; a position which could be explained by the presence, if proven, of pro-Beijing elements within decision-making bodies. Already last year, British domestic intelligence had issued an alert, suspecting political interference Christine Lee, a Chinese-British lawyer close to several elected officials.
(and with AFP)