Chinese officials threatened to retaliate against the UK government if ministers targeted parts of its security apparatus under new foreign influence rules, the Guardian has disclosed. The warning was delivered to the Foreign Office shortly after it emerged that ministers were considering adding specific Chinese entities to the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (Firs).
Only Russia and Iran are currently listed on the enhanced tier, which requires anyone acting for a foreign power to declare their activities or face criminal sanctions. The Guardian reported in spring that ministers were considering including China’s Ministry of State Security, the Chinese Communist party, the United Front Work Department, and the People’s Liberation Army.
The disclosure raises questions about the government’s reluctance to apply stricter rules to China, amid a broader rapprochement with Beijing. The development comes as ministers face scrutiny over the collapse of a spying trial involving two Britons, including former parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash.
Cash and Christopher Berry had been accused of breaching the Official Secrets Act but the case was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service on 15 September. Reports suggested the government’s refusal to describe China as an “enemy” in witness evidence led to the abandonment, though Whitehall sources denied that pressure was placed on the CPS.
Jonathan Powell, the prime minister’s national security adviser, is said to have chaired a meeting where he insisted evidence would stop short of calling Beijing an enemy. Government sources said the meeting was mischaracterised and that no evidence was withdrawn or altered.
