Latest news with #ChineseSpying
Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Britain flags surge in China-linked spying, eyes £600m intelligence upgrade
LONDON, June 25 — Chinese spying and attempts by Beijing to undermine Britain's democracy and economy have risen in recent years, the UK government said Tuesday in a report on the Asian giant. Foreign minister David Lammy told parliament the Labour administration would invest £600 million (RM3.5 billion) in its intelligence services as a result of the findings. Prime Minister Keir Starmer commissioned an 'audit' of Britain's relations with Beijing after he swept to power in landslide general election win last July. The report, published on Tuesday, recommended high-level engagement with China for a 'trade and investment relationship' but also building 'resilience' against threats posed by Beijing. 'We understand that China is a sophisticated and persistent threat,' but 'not engaging with China is therefore no choice at all', Lammy told MPs. 'Like our closest allies, we will co-operate where we can and we will challenge where we must,' he said, vowing that meant 'never compromising on our national security'. Starmer has vowed to pursue a 'consistent' relationship after the previous Conservative government first trumpeted a 'golden era' of close diplomatic ties before relations became increasingly strained. The British PM hopes Chinese investment can help him achieve his main mission of firing up Britain's economy. But differences over Russia's war in Ukraine, Beijing's treatment of Uyghurs and Hong Kong — including the imprisonment of media mogul Jimmy Lai — pose hurdles to repairing relations. In a joint letter coordinated by Reporters Without Borders, 33 organisations around the globe wrote to Starmer on Tuesday asking him to meet Lai's son Sebastian. 'As a British citizen facing an unthinkable ordeal, Sebastien Lai deserves to hear first-hand from the Prime Minister what the UK is doing to secure his father's release,' said the letter, which was signed by groups including Amnesty International UK and Human Rights Foundation. Espionage allegations have also blighted the relationship in recent years, including claims that a Chinese businessman used his links with Britain's Prince Andrew to spy for the Communist Party. The report noted that 'instances of China's espionage, interference in our democracy and the undermining of our economic security have increased in recent years'. 'Our national security response will therefore continue to be threat-driven, bolstering our defences and responding with strong counter-measures,' the government said. Starmer's administration is due to rule on whether to approve Beijing's controversial plans to open the biggest embassy in Britain at a new London location. Residents, rights groups and China hawks oppose the development, fearing it could be used for the surveillance and harassment of dissidents. — AFP
Japan Times
8 hours ago
- Business
- Japan Times
'Audit' of U.K. and China relations finds Beijing's spying is on the rise
Chinese spying and attempts by Beijing to undermine Britain's democracy and economy have risen in recent years, the U.K. government said Tuesday in a report on the Asian giant. Foreign minister David Lammy told Parliament the Labour administration would invest £600 million ($818 million) in its intelligence services as a result of the findings. Prime Minister Keir Starmer commissioned an "audit" of Britain's relations with Beijing after he swept to power in a landslide general election win last July. The report, published on Tuesday, recommended high-level engagement with China for a "trade and investment relationship" but also building "resilience" against threats posed by Beijing. "We understand that China is a sophisticated and persistent threat," but "not engaging with China is therefore no choice at all," Lammy told MPs. "Like our closest allies, we will cooperate where we can, and we will challenge where we must," he said, vowing that meant "never compromising on our national security." Starmer has vowed to pursue a "consistent" relationship after the previous Conservative government first trumpeted a "golden era" of close diplomatic ties before relations became increasingly strained. The prime minister hopes Chinese investment can help him achieve his main mission of firing up Britain's economy. But differences over Russia's war in Ukraine, Beijing's treatment of Uyghurs and Hong Kong — including the imprisonment of media mogul Jimmy Lai — pose hurdles to repairing relations. In a joint letter coordinated by Reporters Without Borders, 33 organizations around the globe wrote to Starmer on Tuesday asking him to meet Lai's son Sebastian. "As a British citizen facing an unthinkable ordeal, Sebastien Lai deserves to hear first-hand from the Prime Minister what the U.K. is doing to secure his father's release," according to the letter, which was signed by groups including Amnesty International U.K. and Human Rights Foundation. Espionage allegations have also blighted the relationship in recent years, including claims that a Chinese businessperson used his links with Britain's Prince Andrew to spy for the Communist Party. The report noted that "instances of China's espionage, interference in our democracy and the undermining of our economic security have increased in recent years." "Our national security response will, therefore, continue to be threat-driven, bolstering our defenses and responding with strong countermeasures," the government said. Starmer's administration is due to rule on whether to approve Beijing's controversial plans to open the biggest embassy in Britain at a new London location. Residents, rights groups and China hawks oppose the development, fearing it could be used for the surveillance and harassment of dissidents.
Arab News
17 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
UK government says Chinese spying on the rise
LONDON: Chinese spying and attempts by Beijing to undermine Britain's democracy and economy have risen in recent years, the UK government said Tuesday in a report on the Asian giant. Foreign minister David Lammy told parliament the Labour administration would invest £600 million ($818 million) in its intelligence services as a result of the findings. Prime Minister Keir Starmer commissioned an 'audit' of Britain's relations with Beijing after he swept to power in landslide general election win last July. The report, published on Tuesday, recommended high-level engagement with China for a 'trade and investment relationship' but also building 'resilience' against threats posed by Beijing. 'We understand that China is a sophisticated and persistent threat,' but 'not engaging with China is therefore no choice at all,' Lammy told MPs. 'Like our closest allies, we will co-operate where we can and we will challenge where we must,' he said, vowing that meant 'never compromising on our national security.' Starmer has vowed to pursue a 'consistent' relationship after the previous Conservative government first trumpeted a 'golden era' of close diplomatic ties before relations became increasingly strained. The British PM hopes Chinese investment can help him achieve his main mission of firing up Britain's economy. But differences over Russia's war in Ukraine, Beijing's treatment of Uyghurs and Hong Kong — including the imprisonment of media mogul Jimmy Lai — pose hurdles to repairing relations. In a joint letter coordinated by Reporters Without Borders, 33 organizations around the globe wrote to Starmer on Tuesday asking him to meet Lai's son Sebastian. 'As a British citizen facing an unthinkable ordeal, Sebastien Lai deserves to hear first-hand from the Prime Minister what the UK is doing to secure his father's release,' said the letter, which was signed by groups including Amnesty International UK and Human Rights Foundation. Espionage allegations have also blighted the relationship in recent years, including claims that a Chinese businessman used his links with Britain's Prince Andrew to spy for the Communist report noted that 'instances of China's espionage, interference in our democracy and the undermining of our economic security have increased in recent years.' 'Our national security response will therefore continue to be threat-driven, bolstering our defenses and responding with strong counter-measures,' the government said. Starmer's administration is due to rule on whether to approve Beijing's controversial plans to open the biggest embassy in Britain at a new London location. Residents, rights groups and China hawks oppose the development, fearing it could be used for the surveillance and harassment of dissidents.
The Independent
19 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
UK seeks ‘trade and investment relationship' with China despite spying risk
Chinese spying, interference in the UK's democracy and attempts to undermine the economy have increased in recent years, the UK Government said. Ministers promised 'greater robustness and consistency' in the way the UK deals with China but acknowledged the desire for a 'trade and investment relationship' with the world's second biggest economy. The 'China audit', which examined the extent of the UK's relationship with Beijing, recommended increasing the Government's ability to engage with the Asian economic superpower while increasing 'resilience' against the risks posed by Xi Jinping's country. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said 'we understand that China is a sophisticated and persistent threat' – an apparent shift from the Government's previous description of it being a 'challenge'. But he told MPs that in the past decade China has delivered a third of global economic growth, becoming the world's second largest economy and, together with Hong Kong, the UK's third largest trading partner. 'Not engaging with China is therefore no choice at all,' he said. 'China's power is an inescapable fact.' Mr Lammy said the audit painted a 'complex picture' but 'the UK's approach to China will be founded on progressive realism, taking the world as it is, not as we wish it to be'. 'Like our closest allies, we will co-operate where we can and we will challenge where we must,' he said, vowing that meant 'never compromising on our national security'. A summary of the audit's findings – including guidance for colleges and universities which rely on Chinese students and partnerships for vital funding – were laid out in the national security strategy. 'The challenge of competition from China – which ranges from military modernisation to an assertion of state power that encompasses economic, industrial, science and technology policy – has potentially huge consequences for the lives of British citizens,' the strategy said. The audit underlined the need for 'direct and high-level engagement and pragmatic cooperation where it is in our national interest', signalling further high-level talks with Beijing. 'In a more volatile world, we need to reduce the risks of misunderstanding and poor communication that have characterised the relationship in recent years,' the strategy said. 'China's global role makes it increasingly consequential in tackling the biggest global challenges, from climate change to global health to financial stability. 'We will seek a trade and investment relationship that supports secure and resilient growth and boosts the UK economy.' But the strategy acknowledged 'several major areas, such as human rights and cyber security, where there are stark differences and where continued tension is likely'. The report noted: 'Instances of China's espionage, interference in our democracy and the undermining of our economic security have increased in recent years. 'Our national security response will therefore continue to be threat-driven, bolstering our defences and responding with strong counter-measures. 'We will continue to protect the Hong Kong community in the UK and others from transnational repression.' The China audit recommended 'an increase in China capabilities across the national security system'. 'That includes creating the basis for a reciprocal and balanced economic relationship, by providing guidance to those in the private or higher education sectors for which China is an important partner,' the strategy said.
