Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, sent a warning to MPs from the security agency MI5. According to counterintelligence, two recruiters use profiles on a business social network “to conduct large-scale activities” for the Chinese security services.
What warning did British MPs receive?
What actions does the UK government plan to respond to Chinese interference?
Who noticed the threat related to Chinese agencies?
What information do Chinese agents collect according to the British ministry?
“Their goal is gathering information and creating the basis for long-term relationshipsusing professional social networking sites, recruitment agents and consultants acting on their behalf,” reads a message from Hoyle to MPs.
Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of CommonsEPA/JESSICA TAYLOR/UK PARLIAMENT / HANDOUT / PAP
Speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday, British Security Secretary Dan Jarvis said the latest assessment showed how China was “trying to recruit and exploit people with access to confidential information about the UK Parliament and government“.
He added that such activities are carried out by a group of Chinese intelligence officers “often hidden through the use of front companies or external bounty hunters.” — China has a low threshold for what information is and will be considered valuable collect individual pieces of information to create a bigger picture he warned the House of Commons.
“The government will not tolerate this”
In an effort to stay one step ahead of agents, Jarvis announced a new one on Tuesday “plan to counteract political interference and espionage”. The measures include stricter risk assessment rules for donation recipients and increased enforcement powers for the UK Electoral Commission.
They will also take place security campaigns conducted by British parliamentary authoritiesincluding tailored briefings for the UK's devolved governments (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), political parties and all candidates standing in the devolved and local elections next May.
Dan Jarvis, British Defense SecretaryJUSTIN TALLIS / AFP
“This activity involves a covert and calculated attempt by a foreign power to interfere in our sovereign affairs to further its own interests, and this government will not tolerate it,” Jarvis warned.
These guidelines are a corollary sharp political dispute in the UK over Chinese interference in British politics. British prosecutors dropped charges this year against two men accused of spying for China. One of them previously worked in parliament. The Palace of Westminster is also considering tightening access to parliament for visitors from China.
