Security Secretary Dan Jarvis stated that the UK government will not tolerate attempts by Chinese spies to interfere in British affairs, following a MI5 warning about the dangers posed by Chinese espionage. The alert identified two LinkedIn profiles, Amanda Qiu and Shirley Shen, being used as proxies for China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) to target individuals in British politics for insider information.
The Chinese embassy in the UK denounced the allegations as “total fabrication.” MI5’s warning highlighted the aggressive recruitment tactics used by MSS, which include reaching out to MPs and political staff through false job offers. Such efforts aim to gather sensitive information and influence UK political processes.
Dan Jarvis announced measures, including a £170 million investment to enhance government encryption and strengthen safeguards against espionage. He emphasized China’s consistent spying behavior and the importance of tightening regulations regarding foreign influence in UK politics.
Concerns about China’s activities have increased, with calls for greater transparency and potential modifications to UK laws governing foreign influence. Critics, including former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith, urged the government to be more vigilant against this persistent threat.
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