MI5 has warned Members of Parliament (MPs) of the risk from Chinese spies.
An alert issued to MPs, peers and parliamentary staff by security services identified two LinkedIn profiles, which it says are used on behalf of the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS).
It said that they act as “civilian recruitment head-hunters,” targeting individuals working in British politics to solicit “insider insights.”
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and his counterpart in the House of Lords, Lord McFall, circulated the MI5 warning to MPs and peers. Writing to MPs, Sir Lindsay said that Chinese state actors were “relentless” in trying to “interfere with our processes and influence activity at Parliament.”
He said that the Chinese MSS was “actively reaching out to individuals in our community”, and that they wanted to “collect information and lay the groundwork for long-term relationships, using professional networking sites, recruitment agents and consultants acting on their behalf.”
Other elements of espionage described in the MI5 alert include all-expenses paid trips to China, and payment for information through cash or cryptocurrency.
Targets are said to include “Parliament staff, economists, think tank employees, geo-political consultants and those working alongside [the government] including MPs and members of the House of Lords.”
the alert was issued by MI5 because “the activity is targeted and widespread”.It also urges MPs and peers to read guidance on how to stay safe on networking sites. And it urges them to report any suspicious activities.
Speaking with a news agency, former Conservative Party leader, Sir Iain Duncan Smith opined that the alert showed China was taking an “aggressive position” that “blows a hole through all of that ridiculous nonsense” about whether or not China was a threat to UK national security.
“We have to be much, much more vigilant. Why is the government so unable to call China what it is, which is a persistent, continuing threat to Britain’s national security. That is clear to every single member of the public… but somehow the government seems to think it isn’t that clear.”
Sir Iain Duncan Smith
UK Security Minister Announces Measures To Tackle Espionage
After MI5 warned MPs of the risk from Chinese spies, UK Security Minister, Dan Jarvis said that the government will not tolerate “covert and calculated” attempts to interfere with the UK’s sovereign affairs.
Jarvis announced a package of measures in the House of Commons to tackle espionage threats to the UK.
These included £170m to upgrade encrypted technology for government business, as well as new protections against Chinese cybercrime and attempts to influence UK university research.
“Let me speak plainly, this activity involves a covert and calculated attempt by a foreign power to interfere in our security affairs in favour of its own interests and this government will not tolerate it.”
Dan Jarvis
Jarvis highlighted a pattern of behaviour around Chinese spying attempts, which he stated that he would take “all necessary measures” to protect against, including updating and strengthening national security powers.
“We will always, always, challenge any country, including China, that attempts to interfere, influence or undermine the integrity of our democratic institutions, and we will take all necessary measures to protect UK national security.”
Dan Jarvis
He said that rules will be tightened to tackle covert funding of political parties, while the Electoral Commission will be given greater enforcement powers.
There will also be security briefings for all parties and candidates standing in the elections next May for the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd, and councils across England.
Stressing that China is still the UK’s third biggest trading partner, Jarvis said that the UK would nevertheless use sanctions “as necessary.”
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