UK: Parliamentary Researcher Charged With Spying for China
Two men, including a parliamentary researcher, have been charged by the UK's Metropolitan Police under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly providing China with information 'useful to an enemy.'...
Facts
- Two men, including a parliamentary researcher, have been charged by the UK's Metropolitan Police under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly providing China with information 'useful to an enemy.'1
- Arrested and released on bail in 2023 following a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation, Christopher Berry and Christopher Cash are set to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on April 26.2
- Berry and Cash are accused of obtaining, collecting, recording, publishing, or providing prejudicial information to China between Dec. 2021 and Jan. 2022, respectively, until Feb. 2023.3
- House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle confirmed that Cash was a parliamentary pass holder at the time of the alleged offenses.4
- He had been arrested on suspicion of spying for China while he reportedly worked as a parliamentary researcher for Alicia Kearns, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, from early 2023.5
- The PRC said that the accusation that Beijing is involved in 'stealing British intelligence' is 'completely fabricated' and a 'self-staged political farce.'6
Sources: 1BBC News, 2Mynewsdesk, 3Guardian, 4Evening Standard, 5Reuters and 6China.
Narratives
- Anti-China narrative, as provided by Conservative Home. The UK Government must finally push back against China. Beijing's consistent attempts to meddle with and influence the direction of the UK from the shadows while Westminster fails to draw up a coherent strategy in response can no longer be tolerated. The UK's relationship with Beijing must be drastically reimagined immediately.
- Pro-China narrative, as provided by english.news.cn. The UK's accusations of espionage are nothing more than hysteria. Instead of tarnishing Beijing's reputation, the UK should address the plethora of self-inflicted problems that have only exacerbated the country's decline. Westminster's baseless stunts aren't taken seriously, and the UK is advised to focus on mutual prosperity instead of unfounded attacks.
