UK Vows Firm Response After MI5 Warns of Chinese Espionage Attempts

The United Kingdom will not tolerate attempts by foreign actors to secretly influence its political system, Security Minister Dan Jarvis said on Tuesday, following an MI5 alert warning lawmakers about efforts by Chinese intelligence services to target individuals within Parliament.

The alert, circulated to MPs, peers and parliamentary staff, identified two LinkedIn profiles believed to be used on behalf of the Chinese Ministry of State Security. According to security officials the individuals behind the profiles pose as civilian recruitment agents and reach out to people involved in British politics to gather insider information.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Jarvis outlined a set of new measures designed to strengthen the UK’s defences against espionage and foreign interference. These include one hundred and seventy million pounds to upgrade encrypted communications used for government business, improved protection against cybercrime linked to China and new safeguards to prevent foreign attempts to influence academic research in UK universities.

Jarvis told MPs that intelligence agencies have evidence that China is trying to recruit or manipulate individuals with access to sensitive information. He said these approaches amount to covert and calculated efforts to interfere in the UK’s sovereign affairs in pursuit of China’s own strategic interests. He added that the government will not tolerate such activities and will take decisive action to counter them.

According to Jarvis China has a low threshold for what it considers valuable information. Even small details, when combined with other intelligence, can help build a broader understanding of UK government operations. This makes a wide range of people potential targets. The MI5 alert said outreach attempts may involve professional networking sites, paid trips to China and offers of payment in cash or cryptocurrency in exchange for information.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and House of Lords Speaker Lord McFall both conveyed the warning to their respective chambers. Sir Lindsay wrote that Chinese state actors have been relentless in their attempts to influence parliamentary activity. He said individuals connected to the Chinese Ministry of State Security are actively approaching members of the parliamentary community and trying to establish long term relationships that could be exploited in the future.

Targets mentioned in the alert include parliamentary staff, economists, think tank researchers, geopolitical consultants and figures who work closely with the government including MPs and peers. Jarvis said the government sees a pattern of behaviour that requires firm action. Steps being considered include tightening rules on covert political funding, strengthening enforcement powers for the Electoral Commission and providing security briefings to all parties and candidates in next year’s elections in Scotland, Wales and England.

While acknowledging that China remains one of the UK’s largest trading partners Jarvis said the government will not hesitate to impose sanctions when necessary to protect national security.