China allegedly spied on the Royals and the UK government. Here are the details
Christine Lee, the lawyer accused of trying to meddle in British politics on behalf of the Chinese government, on Tuesday lost her legal challenge against the UK's domestic intelligence agency MI5.
The court ruling came a day after British authorities named Chinese national Yang Tengbo as a spy who allegedly developed a close relationship with Prince Andrew and was photographed with two British prime ministers.
Here's the latest.
Who is Yang Tengbo?
Yang, 50, also known as Chris Yang, is listed as a director of Hampton Group International, a business consultancy that advises UK-based companies on their operations in China. He has been photographed at events with major UK politicians, including former prime ministers David Cameron and Theresa May.
It is reported that Yang is a key member of Pitch@Palace China, which is Prince Andrew's initiative to support entrepreneurs.
Yang worked as a junior civil servant in China before coming to the UK in 2002 to study. He earned a master's degree in public management and public policy from the University of York before starting his own business.
He was granted the right to live and work in the UK indefinitely in 2013.
What happened to Prince Andrew?
Details about Yang's case emerged last week from the court, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), which agreed with the British authorities' decision to ban Yang from entering the UK in 2023. The Home Office said he was believed to be carrying out “undercover and treacherous work” for the Chinese Communist Party.
The judges agreed with MI5, Britain's domestic intelligence agency, that Yang “represented a risk to national security” and rejected his plea. The court heard that in 2021, authorities found documents showing how close Yang was to Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles.
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One letter from the senior advisor to Andrew told Yang, “Except for [Andrew’s] who is closest to them, sits at the top of the tree where most people would like to be.”
The British Home Office told Yang that they had reason to believe that he was “involved in, or had engaged in, covert and fraudulent activities on behalf of the United Front Work Department (UFWD), which is the state arm of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). machinery,” in a letter cited in the SIAC decision.
The court said that when Yang was interviewed by immigration officials, she failed to fully explain her relationship with the prince.
Authorities have not yet determined what information Yang allegedly obtained or sought to obtain. But the court cited a 2022 statement by the director of MI5 which described the objectives of the United Front Ministry as buying and influencing, amplifying pro-China voices and silencing those who criticize the Chinese government's authority.
Who is Christine Lee?
The British Security Service issued a security alert to all lawmakers in January 2022 warning that London-based lawyer Christine Lee was deliberately engaging in “acts of interference in UK politics” in collaboration with the United Front Labor Department.
Lee's firm, Christine Lee & Co., provided legal services mainly to the British Chinese community and had previously served as a legal adviser to the Chinese embassy in London. According to official records, he donated 500,000 pounds ($906,000 Cdn) to Labor MP Barry Gardiner, mostly for office expenses. His son, Daniel Wilks, served as Gardiner's assistant for five years.
Lee once received recognition from the Prime Minister's Office, under Theresa May, for “promoting cooperation, understanding and cooperation between the Chinese and British communities in the UK”.
On Tuesday, three judges at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal unanimously rejected Lee's claim, saying MI5 had issued a warning about political interference “for good reason.”
The answer comes from Beijing
Yang strongly denied the espionage allegations and said he was a victim of a changing political climate that has seen tensions rise between Britain and China.
“I have not done anything bad or against the law,” he said in a statement. “The widespread description of 'I'm a spy' is simply not true.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian on Tuesday called the espionage allegations against Yang “ridiculous,” while the Chinese Embassy in Britain criticized UK lawmakers for “smearing” China.
Lee, who has not been charged with a crime, said the security warnings against him were political and violated his human rights.
Answer to the British Parliament
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was concerned about the challenge posed by China, but stood by his government's position to negotiate and work with Beijing.
Starmer, who took office this summer, has sought to repair strained relations and in November became the first British leader to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping since 2018.
Opposition lawyer Iain Duncan Smith, a leading critic of Beijing, said the focus was on the clear threat posed by China.
“The truth is that there are many, many people who are involved in this kind of espionage that is happening,” he said.
Another royal head
Andrew's office said on Friday that the royal family had met with Yang “through official channels” and that nothing serious had been discussed. The statement did not specify the date the prince “ceased contact” with Yang.
Andrew was appointed Britain's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment in 2001. But he was forced to step down in 2011 amid growing concerns about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to soliciting a minor. fornication.
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“If a Chinese spy makes friends with the king, he wants to enter British soil. We need to know that the members of the royal family have given them what they want,” said Graham Smith, the Republican leader.
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