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oreign Workplace officers have raised considerations with the Chinese language ambassador to the UK over a warning from MI5 that an agent engaged in “political interference actions” within the UK on behalf of the ruling communist occasion.
China denied the allegations late on Thursday evening, saying it had “no want” to “purchase affect” in any overseas parliament.
It got here after it emerged {that a} senior Labour MP had obtained greater than £500,000 in donations from a girl believed by MI5 to be a Chinese language agent.
Barry Gardiner obtained the donations from Christine Ching Kui Lee – primarily to cowl staffing prices in his workplace – over a interval of six years, and employed her son as his diary supervisor.
We firmly oppose the trick of smearing and intimidation in opposition to the Chinese language group within the UK
The disclosures got here after MI5 took the uncommon step of issuing MPs and friends with a warning about Ms Lee’s cultivating of British politicians to safe a “UK political panorama” that was “beneficial” to China.
A spokesperson for the Chinese language Embassy in London denied the claims.
“China all the time adheres to the precept of non-interference in different nation’s inner affairs,” they mentioned.
“Now we have no want and by no means search to ‘purchase affect’ in any overseas parliament. We firmly oppose the trick of smearing and intimidation in opposition to the Chinese language group within the UK.”
It’s understood that officers raised the safety alert on Ms Lee with the Chinese language ambassador on Thursday.
The Dwelling Secretary has mentioned it’s doubtless there shall be extra nationwide safety alerts like that issued over Ms Lee.
Priti Patel mentioned the UK had “different adversaries” who would “look to intrude or come into our nation in some form and means”.
Within the Safety Service Interference Alert (SSIA) despatched to MPs and friends, MI5 mentioned Ms Lee “acted covertly” in co-ordination with the United Entrance Work Division (UFWD) of the Chinese language Communist Occasion (CCP).
“The UFWD seeks to domesticate relationships with influential figures to be able to make sure the UK political panorama is beneficial to the CCP’s agenda and to problem those who elevate considerations about CCP exercise, reminiscent of human rights,” it mentioned.
“Lee has been engaged within the facilitation of economic donations to political events, parliamentarians, aspiring parliamentarians, and people in search of political workplace within the UK, together with facilitating donations to political entities on behalf of overseas nationals.”
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