China tells UK to ‘stop creating trouble’ over alleged spy

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The Chinese embassy in London has warned Britain to “stop making trouble” as it hits out at the “distorted mindset” of MPs over allegations that a Chinese businessman linked to Prince Andrew is a Communist Party spy.

An embassy spokesman also accused UK lawmakers of “arrogance and shamelessness” over the claims.

“We call on the British side to immediately stop creating trouble, stop anti-China political manipulation and stop disrupting normal personnel exchanges between China and the US.”

Tuesday’s comments came after a judge allowed the 50-year-old Chinese national, who was banned from entering Britain on national security grounds, to be identified as Tenbo Yang.

UK Security Secretary Dan Jarvis welcomed the court’s decision to uphold Young’s ban and warned that “this case does not exist in a vacuum”.

He told MPs that Britain was facing “ongoing efforts by a number of states, including China, Russia and Iran, to undermine UK security”.

The anonymity order was reviewed at a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday as MPs threatened to use parliamentary privilege to name Ian in the House of Commons.

On Tuesday, China’s spokesperson labeled the “anti-Chinese noise made by several British MPs” as an “attempt to defame China”.[and]target against the Chinese community in the UK”.

“We strongly condemn it,” added the spokesperson.

The tension marks a potential setback for the Labor government’s bid to improve relations with Beijing.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met President Xi Jinping last month in the first meeting between the countries’ leaders since 2018, pledging to build a “consistent, lasting, respectful” relationship.

Young developed business ties with Prince Andrew and gained access to a network of other senior British politicians and business figures, and was photographed with former Conservative Prime Ministers Lord David Cameron and Baroness Theresa May.

MI5 claimed he was a member of the Chinese Communist Party, working for the United Front Work Department, which collected intelligence.
The case against him was based in part on data found on his phone, which was seized by UK security services in November 2021.

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy said on Tuesday that the United Front was “above all else and beyond the pale,” describing it as an attempt to promote cooperation between the Chinese Communist Party “and people who are not members of it and promote people-to-people exchanges and friendships.” with countries”.

Young challenged the Home Office ban, which was rejected by a special immigration appeals panel last week, and on Monday he criticized his treatment.

“The political climate has changed, and unfortunately I have become a victim of it,” he added. “When relations are good and Chinese investment is being sought, I’m welcome in the UK. When relations are bad, an anti-Chinese stance is taken and I’m out.”

The commission’s decision found that Yang “may have established relationships with prominent UK figures and high-ranking Chinese officials that could be used by the CCP for political interference purposes.[Chinese Communist party]. . . or the Chinese state.”