UK: Sunak Raises Concern of PRC Interference

Facts

• During a meeting on Sunday at the G20 summit in India, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his concern in a sideline meeting regarding alleged PRC Chinese interference in Britain's parliamentary democracy to Premier Li Qiang of China. This comes after two Chinese men were arrested on spying allegations.¹
• The two men were arrested under the UK's Official Secrets Act amid accusations that a parliamentary researcher spied for China. One of the men, in his 20s,  is reported to have had relations with several governing Conservative Party MPs; another man in his 30s was arrested in March and was subsequently released on bail.²
• Two members of parliament reported to have been in connection with the former researcher are Security Minister Tom Tugendhat and Alicia Kearns, the chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee. However, both Tugendhat and Kearns deny they had any contact with the accused staffer.³
• Sunak, in an interview with broadcasters in New Delhi, said he expressed 'very strong concerns about any interference in our parliamentary democracy' to Li. The Prime Minister also said that his meeting with the Chinese premier was constructive and not 'shouting from the sidelines.'⁴
• Chinese state news agency Xinhua did not mention Sunak's spy remarks in their report from the meeting. According to the news outlet, Li said that both countries should refrain from mixing trade and economic cooperation with geopolitical and security issues.⁵
• Beijing-Londan relations have remained tense in recent years over human rights and economic issues related to Hong Kong. While some UK conservatives want Beijing to be declared a threat, Sunak has referred to China's growing power only as a 'challenge.'⁶

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²India today, ³Daily Mail, ⁴Politico, ⁵France 24 and ⁶Abc news.

Narratives

• Anti-China narrative, as provided by CNN. Beijing's covert activities in Britain and its interference in British democracy are unacceptable. The two alleged suspects have so far not been charged, but if found guilty, it would represent one of the most serious breaches of security involving a hostile state in Parliament. If we want real change in PRC behavior, it's important that these issues are escalated to the highest level.
• Pro-China narrative, as provided by Al Jazeera. The British government's allegation that China is suspected of stealing intelligence from the UK is completely incorrect and made in bad faith. Beijing wants a positive relationship with London, but this is complicated by anti-China political rhetoric.

Predictions