UK Urged to Designate China as National Security Threat
The UK is being urged to officially designate China as a national security threat, with Tory frontbencher Dame Priti Patel leading the charge. In a recent interview, Dame Priti accused the government of showing “desperation” in its early dealings with Beijing and called for action in light of recent events involving alleged Chinese spies.
Increasing Concerns Over China’s Influence
The call to designate China as a national security threat comes in the wake of a controversy surrounding Prince Andrew’s links to alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo, who was deemed a threat to national security and barred from entering the UK. According to Dame Priti, Xi Jinping’s regime has made numerous incursions into the UK, raising concerns about national security, intellectual property, cyber activities, and misinformation.
Support from Influential Tories
Dame Priti’s stance has garnered support from other influential Tories, including Suella Braverman and Tom Tugendhat, who have called for China to be included in the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. Failure to do so, according to Mr. Tugendhat, would render the scheme “not worth having,” as per warnings from MI5.
Concerns Over Trade Talks
Amid plans for Sir Keir Starmer’s government to visit China for trade talks, Dame Priti expressed deep concerns about the government’s approach. She criticized the government for pursuing economic-financial dialogue with China while downplaying the seriousness of the espionage issue. She highlighted the case of a spy operating within Whitehall and questioned the government’s priorities in seeking foreign investments despite mounting security risks.
The UK government has emphasized a strategic approach to managing relations with China, balancing cooperation, competition, and challenge while prioritizing national security. As debates continue over the designation of China as a national security threat, the implications for UK-China relations remain significant.
