Britain will summon the Chinese ambassador after two men were convicted in a London court of spying on behalf of Hong Kong and ultimately China, Security Minister Dan Jarvis said on 8 May.
The case has further strained already tense relations between London and Beijing, amid long-running disputes over Hong Kong and alleged interference in the United Kingdom.
Jarvis said the activities carried out by the men amounted to an “infringement of our sovereignty” and would “never be tolerated” on British soil.
He confirmed that the Foreign Office would formally summon the Chinese ambassador to London to issue a protest over the case.
“We will continue to hold China to account and challenge them directly for actions which put the safety of people in our country at risk,” Jarvis said.
The Chinese embassy in London rejected the accusations, saying it had already lodged representations with the UK government.
A spokesperson said China would take “necessary measures to safeguard its interests” and accused Britain of politicising the case.
The embassy described the proceedings as an “abuse of the law” and said they were intended to “smear the Chinese government and the Hong Kong SAR government”.
Separately, the Hong Kong government said the allegations were not linked to its authorities or the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London.
Diplomatic strain
The case follows the conviction of two men, including a British immigration officer, found guilty of spying for Hong Kong and China, targeting pro-democracy dissidents based in the UK.
Relations between the two countries have remained strained since Beijing’s 2019 crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, a territory that was under British rule for more than 150 years before returning to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.
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A cross-party delegation of British lawmakers is set to visit China in mid-May for the first time since 2019. The trip is positioned as a sign of cautious warming of ties, following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing earlier this year, according to two sources familiar with the plans.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 8th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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