Defence minister Luke Pollard has urged ordinary UK citizens to be vigilant against online contact from Chinese spies, following an MI5 alert to parliament. The security services warned MPs, Lords, and their staff about two LinkedIn accounts, 'Amanda Qiu' and 'Shirly Shen', posing as headhunters to recruit individuals with access to non-public information.
Pollard told Sky News that the advice should be heeded by the public, as increased online activity makes it easier for hostile actors to target people. Security minister Dan Jarvis described the attempt as a 'covert and calculated' effort by the Chinese government to recruit those close to power.
One parliamentary worker who was contacted by Shirly Shen said the message appeared to be a job opportunity but was poorly written. He expressed concern that less experienced staff might respond, noting such contacts are becoming more common. The Chinese foreign ministry denied the allegations, accusing the UK of 'groundlessly hyping up' the issue.
The warning comes after the collapse of a trial against two British men accused of spying for China. The Crown Prosecution Service dropped charges after the government failed to confirm China as a 'current threat to national security'. Pollard acknowledged the complex relationship with China, balancing threats and opportunities.
