Britain rejects calls to label China a ‘threat’ after spying suspicions

The British government has rejected calls to officially label China a threat to its interests. Several lawmakers have called for a tougher line from the government after it was revealed that a British parliamentary investigator was arrested on suspicion of spying for Beijing.

Espionage suspects

British police detained two men in March on suspicion of violating Britain’s Official Secrets Act. The arrests came to light this week, when the sunday time The newspaper reported that one of the suspects was a British parliamentary investigator with connections to several prominent members of the ruling Conservative Party, including government ministers.

In a statement posted online Monday by his lawyers, the investigator (whom VOA prefers not to name because he had not been charged) said he was innocent.

“I have spent my career to date trying to educate others about the challenge and threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party. To do what has been claimed against me in outlandish news stories would be contrary to everything I stand for,” the statement said.

Diplomatic response

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak raised the incident with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang at last week’s G20 summit in India. Speaking to lawmakers on Monday, Sunak said he would defend British democracy.

“The whole House is rightly shocked by reports of spying in this building,” Sunak said. “The sanctity of this place must be protected and the right of members to speak their minds without fear or sanction must be maintained. We will defend our democracy and our security. Therefore, I was emphatic with Premier Li that the actions seek to undermine British democracy are completely unacceptable and will never be tolerated,” Sunak added.

However, the prime minister did not say Britain would officially recognize China as a threat to its interests.

Meanwhile, Beijing said the spying accusations were a fabrication. “We urge the United Kingdom to stop spreading false information and stop its political manipulation against China and malicious slander,” Mao Ning, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told reporters in Beijing on Monday.

Security Treatment

Critics say Britain needs to be more critical of China, following a series of allegations over security breaches, including the harassment of exiled pro-democracy activists in the UK and the establishment of police stations on British soil. Beijing denies those accusations.

Finn Lau helped organize pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in 2019. Following his arrest by Chinese police, the 29-year-old fled to Britain. He suffered serious injuries following an attack on a London street in 2020, which he blames on supporters of the Chinese Communist Party. Earlier this year, Hong Kong authorities offered a $128,000 reward for his arrest, along with several other exiled activists.

Lau told VOA that he has repeatedly requested meetings with the British government to discuss the security threat, but has so far been denied.

“I would say there is some kind of lack of coherent approach, or even policy from China right now, especially when it comes to national security or some kind of threat abroad,” Lau told VOA.

Several British lawmakers have echoed that view. Former Prime Minister Liz Truss is among those in the Conservative Party calling on the government to officially recognize China as a threat to Britain.

“These are extremely worrying reports about the level of infiltration of Chinese-backed forces into our democracy… What we have to do is recognize that China is the biggest threat, both to the world and to the UK, to freedom and democracy.” Truss told lawmakers on Monday.

The economic ties

The British government describes China as a challenge to its interests, but not a threat.

Speaking to reporters on Monday during a visit to the BMW Mini car factory in Oxford, Britain’s business secretary Kemi Badenoch said economic ties could be at risk.

“We cannot describe China as enemies. It is our fourth trading partner. There are many companies, including the one I represent, that are integrated with the Chinese economy. Many jobs depend on it,” Badenoch said.

Activist Finn Lau says the confidence is overblown. “China only accounts for 6.1% of the total trade volume in the United Kingdom. We should focus on diversifying our trade relations, starting today,” he told VOA.

The two suspects arrested in March were released on bail. The police investigation continues.