Former Prime Minister Liz Truss has described China as the largest threat to freedom and democracy in the world as she urged the government to designate the country as a threat to the UK.
The former prime minister was speaking in the Commons as MPs lined up to grill Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden over claims a Chinese “espionage cell” had infiltrated government.
Many politicians told the House how they were unaware that two men—including a parliamentary researcher—were arrested over the spying claims, until reading about it in the press.
Pressure has since mounted on both Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly—who visited China last month—to reveal exactly when they became aware of the allegations.
On Sunday, The Times of London revealed that one of those detained—a man in his 20s—had worked closely with senior security ministers and MPs, including those sanctioned by the Chinese regime.
He was arrested in Edinburgh in March, while another man in his 30s was arrested in Oxfordshire on March 13.
Both were held on suspicion of offences under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911, which punishes offences that are said to be “prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state.”
They have been bailed until early October.
Details of the arrests and ongoing investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command only came to light over the weekend.
In a statement to Parliament on Monday afternoon, Mr. Dowden said: “These are serious allegations and it is right that they are being thoroughly investigated by the police and relevant agencies.
“It remains an absolute priority for the government to take all necessary steps to protect the United Kingdom from any foreign state activity, which seeks to undermine our national security, prosperity, and democratic values.
China Ban
The deputy prime minister added that the UK must be able to look the Chinese in the eye and “call out unacceptable behaviour.”After mentioning Beijing’s “continued disregard for universal human rights and international commitments in Xinjiang” and its “erasure of dissenting voices” in Hong Kong, Mr. Dowden said: “We are clear-eyed about that challenge and we must be able to look the Chinese in the eye and call out unacceptable behaviour directly, just as our prime minister was able to do with Premier Li [Keqiang] at the G-20 in New Delhi this weekend. An approach that has also been taken consistently by our Five Eyes allies.”
However, Mr. Dowden said “actions speak louder than words,” adding: “That’s why I took the decision to instruct departments to cease deployment of all surveillance equipment subject to China’s national intelligence law from sensitive government sites in November last year.
“It’s one of the reasons why I banned TikTok from government devices, it’s why the government has investigated and called out so-called Chinese overseas police service stations.”
Mr. Dowden was grilled by both party colleagues and opposition leaders on exactly when government knew of the espionage claims.
SNP Cabinet Office spokeswoman Kirsty Blackman said: “When did the deputy prime minister himself learn of these allegations and of these arrests? Why did MPs only learn of this from The Times, and will the government institute as soon as possible a review into the decision-making process that led to MPs not being told about this in order that critical updates like this are given to MPs in future and this decision-making process is never allowed to happen again?”
The deputy prime minister responded saying he would not give a “running commentary” on security issues, but added he is “briefed on all relevant matters.”
Espionage Cell
Ms. Truss, who previously called for an “economic NATO” to tackle Beijing’s growing authoritarianism, pushed Mr. Dowden on the UK’s response to the serious spying claims.“These are extremely worrying reports about the level of infiltration of Chinese-supported forces into our democracy,” she told the Commons.
“Does he agree that what we need to do is to recognise that China is the largest threat, both to the world and to the United Kingdom, for freedom and democracy?
“And does he not agree that the government should designate it as such?”
Mr. Dowden replied that the UK is “clear-eyed.”
“We will continue to take whatever steps are necessary based on appropriate advice to provide that protection for our nation and our democratic institutions,” he said.
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith also pushed Mr. Dowden on what senior ministers knew about a potential “espionage cell” at the heart of government.
He said: “When did the foreign secretary get told about this investigation? Was it before he went to Beijing, and if he went to Beijing with this knowledge, did he raise it with his counterpart in Beijing, because it’s very important to know whether we have already said it.”
Sir Iain added: “The problem lies in the mess we’ve got into over what we define China as in respect to us. Are they a threat or are they not? If they are a threat, why don’t we call them a threat and take the relative action that is necessary to deal with them on that basis and sanction some people?”
Mr. Dowden said Mr. Cleverly “regularly raises electoral interference and interference with our democratic institutions” with his Chinese counterpart.
He said: “It would not be the case, and it has not been the case generally, that specific cases—particularly those that are subject to an ongoing police investigation—would be raised.”
Spy Denial
Conservative former minister Tim Loughton, who has been sanctioned by China, said he and colleagues are “on the frontline of this threat” before bemoaning a lack of briefings on the case as he told MPs, “I found out more about this character involved from my son, who just happened to be at university with him, than anything I’ve been told formally.”On Sunday, The Times of London revealed that the researcher at the centre of the allegations had links with senior Tories including security minister Tom Tugendhat and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Alicia Kearns.
He was linked with at least one China group involving ministers. Documents seen by The Epoch Times show he resigned from one group as director in June.
He was previously listed as a person with significant control on company documents.
The researcher, who has not been named by police or MPs, yesterday released a statement through his lawyers denying the claims.
He said: “I feel forced to respond to the media accusations that I am a ‘Chinese spy’.
“It is wrong that I should be obliged to make any form of public comment on the misreporting that has taken place.
“However, given what has been reported, it is vital that it is known that I am completely innocent.
“I have spent my career to date trying to educate others about the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party.
“To do what has been claimed against me in extravagant news reporting would be against everything I stand for.”
Labour Pressure
Mr. Sunak faced calls from Labour to reveal whether Mr. Cleverly raised reports of Chinese spying in Westminster during his August visit to the country.Sir Keir Starmer told the Commons: “The news of the arrest of a researcher here in Parliament on suspicion of spying for China is a serious breach of security conducted by the Beijing security services.
“Given the arrest happened in March, can I ask the prime minister if the foreign secretary knew about this incident before he visited China last month, and if he did, did he raise it on that trip?”
Pointing to previous answers by Mr. Dowden which avoided the issue, Sir Keir added: “My question is specific. I would ask the prime minister to address it directly.”
Responding to Labour, Mr. Sunak said: “I am sure he will appreciate that as there is an ongoing investigation, as you have also said Mr. Speaker, I am limited in what I can say specifically.
“But I have been emphatically clear in our engagement with China that we will not accept any interference in our democracy and parliamentary system.”
As he updated the Commons on his time at the G-20 summit in India, Mr. Sunak earlier told MPs: “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.
“So I was emphatic with Premier Li that actions which seek to undermine British democracy are completely unacceptable and will never be tolerated.”
