British officials have made formal representations to their Chinese counterparts in London and Beijing following the arrests of three men – including one in Powys – earlier today.
Security minister Dan Jarvis gave the update as he addressed questions in the House of Commons shortly after the Metropolitan Police confirmed it had arrested the trio on suspicion of spying for China.
A 68-year-old man was arrested in Powys, a 43-year-old man was apprehended in Pontyclun in South Wales, and a third man, 39, was arrested in London.
They were seized on Wednesday on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section three of the National Security Act, 2023.
READ MORE | Man arrested in Powys in Metropolitan Police China spy probe
Mr Jarvis told MPs: “This Government stands resolute in our resolve to counter foreign interference activity targeting the UK from any state actor.
“The Government has been consistent and unambiguous in our assessment that China presents a series of threats to the United Kingdom.
“We remain deeply concerned by an increasing pattern of covert activity from Chinese state-linked actors targeting UK democracy.
“This involves attempts to obtain information on UK policymaking and interfere with our sovereign affairs."
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But Mr Jarvis added that it “continues to be in our long-term strategic interest to engage with China”.
He said: “We are engaging with China confidently and pragmatically on areas where engagement is in the UK’s national interest: climate, global health, trade, scientific research, but also on illegal migration and serious organised crime, just to name a few areas.
“But let me be crystal clear, this is not a question of balancing economic and security considerations.
“We don’t trade off security for economic access. Instead, by taking tough steps to keep us secure, we enable ourselves to co-operate in other areas, and we will always challenge any country, including China, that attempts to interfere with or undermine the integrity of our democratic institutions, and we will always prioritise UK national security.”
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He added that any decision as to whether to proceed with a prosecution would be a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service.
Meanwhile, Labour MP Joani Reid, whose spouse David Taylor is one of the people arrested, said she has "never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law".
The East Kilbride and Strathaven MP added: “I have never been to China. I have never spoken on China or China-related matters in the Commons. I have never asked a question on China-related matters."
Police have also searched other addresses in London, East Kilbride, in South Lanarkshire, and Cardiff.
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