China Issues Retaliation Threat to UK Government Over External Interference Regulations

According to multiple government sources, Beijing has allegedly threatened to respond against the UK if ministers move to designate specific components of its intelligence apparatus under newly implemented foreign influence registration rules.

Bilateral Tensions Escalate

Beijing officials reportedly conveyed this message to the Foreign Office soon following reports emerged that the British administration was considering such measures. This development has raised concerns given the government's ongoing reluctance to enforce stricter foreign influence regulations on lobbyists acting for China or any segment of the Chinese state.

Existing Lobbying Disclosure System

At present, exclusively Russia and the Islamic Republic have been placed on the enhanced tier of the external lobbying registry (Firs), which was launched in the summer and became fully operational this month. This framework requires all individuals in the United Kingdom acting for a external government or entity to declare their operations to the authorities or face criminal sanctions.

• The enhanced category applies to nations and entities considered a particular risk.
• It requires additional disclosures beyond the standard requirements.
• As a result, any individual performing undeclared work on behalf of Tehran or Moscow faces up to five years in jail.

Potential Designations

Previously, sources suggested that instead of targeting Beijing as a complete entity, ministers were evaluating adding specific parts of the PRC governmental structure that have been accused of interference in European and North American nations to the stricter category.

These entities reportedly comprise:

• China's Ministry of State Security
• The CCP (CCP)
• The United Front Work Department
• The People's Liberation Army (PLA)

Dismissed Espionage Trial

Simultaneously, the government faces increasing scrutiny over the sudden collapse of an spying trial against two Britons, comprising a ex- parliamentary researcher. Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary aide to Conservative MPs, and his associate Christopher Berry had been accused of spying for China.

Their trial was unexpectedly dismissed by the Crown Prosecution Service in the autumn. The accused men had contested the allegations.

Judicial Challenges

Journalistic accounts suggested that the government's refusal to formally describe China as an "adversarial state" in witness evidence from a intelligence representative contributed to the case's collapse. Jonathan Powell, the government's national security adviser, allegedly chaired a discussion in Whitehall where he told officials that the state's testimony would stop well short of calling the Chinese government an adversary.

Government sources subsequently rejected the allegation that the security adviser was involved in restricting government evidence.

The legal complication stemmed from the Official Secrets Act of 1911, which specifies that a person is responsible for espionage if they pass on data "directly or indirectly useful to an enemy". However, the present government's security policy describes Beijing as a "geo-strategic challenge" rather than an enemy.

Continuing Bilateral Engagement

Despite these tensions, British-Chinese diplomatic ties appear to be warming. Multiple senior UK officials have traveled to China on official visits since the new government took office. Among them are the business secretary, who engaged in commercial discussions recently, and Jonathan Powell, who traveled during the summer.

Additionally, talks have supposedly occurred between senior Foreign Office officials and parliamentary leadership regarding the possibility of lifting the ban on the PRC diplomat accessing the legislature, potentially in return for China lifting its restrictions on British legislators.

Prime Minister the Labour leader is largely anticipated to undertake a bilateral trip to China in early the new year, though the specific schedule might be dependent on international factors, including a potential visit by former US President Donald Trump.