Labour is accused of placing its relationship with Beijing over national security – after ministers leave China off the UK’s new foreign influence register_Nhy
Labour were accused of placing its relationship with Beijing over national security after leaving China off the UK’s new foreign influence register.
MPs from across the House rounded on the government for failing to take the threat of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) seriously after ministers confirmed the surprise snub.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis confirmed Iran would be in the top tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), the only country on the new list, but declined to comment on Beijing’s status.
It means Chinese operatives – who have been accused in recent weeks of targeting Hong Kong democracy activists on British soil – will not, for now, need to declare their activities to the government.
Labour has been accused of being too soft in responding to attempts by the CCP to infiltrate the British state to boost hopes of a trade deal with Beijing and attract much-needed investment.
When questioned by the Tories about China’s absence from the list, Mr Jarvis said that yesterday’s announcement ‘specifically relates to Iran’ and that decisions on other nations ‘will be made in due course.’
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told the Mail last night: ‘China has aggressively targeted UK residences through secret police stations and now even placing a bounty on their heads.
‘This is in addition to industrial scale intellectual property theft of sensitive advanced technologies from companies and universities.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves pictured with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeneg
Labour has been accused of placing its relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping (pictured) over national security
China’s top political advisory body, the CPPCC, pictured beginning their annual session today in Beijing
‘There is no question China should be in the Enhanced Tier, and I am very surprised the government has not yet done this. I can only assume it comes from a misguided desire to place conciliating the Chinese government above national security.’
Labour MP Sarah Champion added: ‘I find it extraordinary that China is not seen as a top threat to the UK.
‘Every defence briefing I’ve had confirms China, Russia and Iran are our greatest risks – so why aren’t the Government acting on this?
‘We’ve identified alleged Chinese spies on the parliamentary estate, MPs, including myself, had Chinese spyware on our Parliamentary computers – how bad does it need to be?’
Luke De Pulford, of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said: ‘The foreign influence registration scheme is utterly pointless if it fails to address our biggest security threat, China. We should be giving our agencies the tools needed to deal with the threat posed by Beijing, not undermining their essential work.’
The surprising snub came just minutes after MPs called for more protections for Hong Kong activists living in the UK who the CCP has targeted in recent weeks.
Last month the Mail exposed how bounty notes offering more than £100,000 were delivered to neighbours of two anti-China campaigners now living in Britain.
In an Urgent Question yesterday, Mr Philp said: Bounties have apparently been placed on three people who are in the United Kingdom, amounting to approximately £100,000 each. All of them fled Hong Kong owing to persecution.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis refused to be drawn on China’s lac of mention on the new foreign influence register
Female soldiers from the People’s Liberation Army march in Tiananmen Square
‘I understand that posters appeared near the home addresses of two of these people and letters were posted to their neighbours offering a reward if they were quote ‘delivered to the Chinese Embassy’. This is completely unacceptable, cannot be tolerated, and robust action must be taken.’
Mr Jarvis replied: ‘The safety and security of Hong Kongers in the UK is of the utmost importance, and the UK will always stand up for the rights of the people of Hong Kong.
‘Let me also say to him that wherever we identify such threats we will use any and all measures, including through the use of our world class intelligence services, to mitigate the risk to individuals..’
