PM Sunak raises concern over interference in UK democracy with China’s Li. After the rumored arrest of two accused spies, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he had discussed his worry about potential Chinese intervention in Britain’s parliamentary system with Chinese Premier Li Qiang during a G20 session in India.
According to The Sunday Times, a researcher working for the British Parliament was detained on suspicion of espionage for China.
Sunak told reporters he had discussed “his very strong concerns about any interference in our parliamentary democracy, which is unacceptable” with Premier Li. However, he said he was constrained in what he could say due to an ongoing investigation.
The Metropolitan Police of London said two individuals had been detained in March and placed on police bail until early October after being charged under the Official Secrets Act.
The claims might hurt Sunak’s efforts to improve relations with China, as seen by the recent trip to Beijing by Foreign Minister James Cleverly.
The conservative administration of Sunak has worked to improve ties with China by talking to the Chinese capital about climate change and other issues while also criticizing it in other areas, such as human rights.
Although Sunak brought up several points of contention, he believes the discussion proved the efficacy of participating “where it makes sense.”
Rather than “just shouting from the sidelines,” he advocated for actively participating by raising problems head-on.
Li was quoted as saying, “The two sides should properly handle their differences” in a Chinese readout of the meeting. It did not mention the eavesdropping claim but lauded Britain’s growing practical cooperation with China.
However, in response to the arrests, the Chinese embassy in the UK said that the claims were false and that China strongly condemned them.
The embassy’s website states, “The so-called claim that China is suspected of’stealing British intelligence’ is completely fabricated and malicious slander,” and it calls on all parties involved to cease their “self-directed political farce” and “anti-China political manipulation.”
Due to Beijing’s attitude, Conservative politician and China critic Iain Duncan Smith raised major doubts about Sunak’s strategy.
“I don’t take it to be a conversation. Duncan Smith, who China has blacklisted, told Times Radio, “I think it’s a kind of pathetic monologue.” The truth is that China isn’t listening to us very often.
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