The spy game – China's tactics, the threat to the UK and how we respond
China denies interfering in UK politics after MI5 warned an agent of the country had infiltrated Parliament. But what does that warning say about relations between the countries?
The spy game between the West and China is complex and murky. Political leaders and spy chiefs know its heating up. But most of the time, its out of sight and hard for us to understand. But sometimes, we get a rare glimpse of this world. And that’s what’s just happened here in the UK. China has denied interfering in UK politics after MI5 warned an agent of the country had infiltrated Parliament. The security service said Christine Ching Kui Lee - who runs a law firm in the UK - "established links" for the Chinese Communist Party with current and aspiring MPs. The Chinese Embassy in London accused MI5 of "smearing and intimidation" against the UK's Chinese community. In a statement on the embassy's website, a spokesman said: "China always adheres to the principle of non-interference in other country's internal affairs".
That story and how it’s come about is extremely unusual. And speaks to the complicated relationship that’s emerging between the two countries. For 5 Minutes On, Gordon Corera, the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳’s Security Correspondent, looks at what’s going on and what can be done about it.
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