Relations: China rejects spying allegations in British Parliament

China has rejected British allegations about a possible espionage case in the UK parliament. The accusation that China is carrying out espionage activities against Great Britain is baseless and China rejects it, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in Beijing on Monday. “We call on Britain to stop spreading false information, political manipulation and malicious slander against China,” she said.

British police arrested a suspected Chinese spy who worked for the British Parliament’s research service and had access to influential politicians. As the Sunday Times reported, another man was also arrested in connection with the case. Scotland Yard confirmed both arrests.

According to the newspaper, the research assistant was a Brit who had lived and worked in China. He is said to have influenced British China policy for years. The suspect protested his innocence in a letter from his lawyers, the British news agency PA reported. “I have spent my career educating others about the challenges and threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party.” He was arrested in March.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang met last weekend in New Delhi, India, on the sidelines of the G20 summit. According to Downing Street, Sunak expressed “significant concerns about Chinese interference in the UK’s parliamentary democracy.” Beijing confirmed the meeting on Monday. The two exchanged their views there. “We hope that Britain will end the political hype, uphold the spirit of mutual respect and equal treatment, and promote the development of China-UK relations in a constructive manner,” Mao Ning said.