Warning issued after media reports about a Chinese businessman linked to a ‘secret police station’ in London…reports Asian Lite News
Britain says any intimidation of foreign nationals by China or other states on its soil is unacceptable as it responded to a media report about a secret Chinese police station.
Britain has previously said that reports of undeclared police stations in the country were “extremely concerning” and the police were looking into the issue.
This week, United States federal agents arrested two New York residents for allegedly operating a Chinese “secret police station” in the Chinatown district of Manhattan. China has said it firmly opposes what it called “the US’s slanders and smears”.
On Wednesday, Britain’s policing minister, Chris Philp, said the government was aware of about 100 such stations around the world.
“This government takes interference with foreign nationals here, transnational intimidation, extremely seriously,” he said. “It is completely unacceptable, and we will do whatever is necessary to stop it from happening.”
China’s embassy in Britain did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Chinese government has previously said there are centres outside China run by local volunteers, not Chinese police officers, that aim to help Chinese citizens renew documents and offer other services.
The Times reported on Tuesday that a Chinese businessman linked to what it called a secret police station in London had organised fundraising dinners for the governing Conservative Party.
The local Conservative Party association said it had reported the matter to security services last year and the man was no longer a member of their association.
Philp declined to comment on the case, which he said was under police investigation.
On the issue of possible political influence, he said: “All political parties need to be alert to the danger that representatives of hostile states seek to infiltrate or influence our activities”
The House of Commons and the Lords also cited security concerns as they decided to ban the app – owned by Chinese internet company ByteDance – across the Palace of Westminster.
“We cannot secure future technology without addressing the epoch-defining challenge that we are facing: the dramatic rise of China as a technology superpower,” Cameron will say, in comments reported by the Times.
“China has identified several existing and emerging technologies as being vital to its future national security. And it has an aspiration to become a world leader in setting technological standards.
“So we need to be clear: China is not only pushing for parity with western countries, it is aiming for technical supremacy. It will use its tech strength as a lever to achieve a dominant role in global affairs. What does this mean for cybersecurity? Bluntly, we cannot afford not to keep pace otherwise we risk China becoming the predominant power in cyberspace.
“Some may dismiss this as far-fetched or scaremongering, but it is a risk I would urge you to take seriously. This is simply not something about which any of us can be complacent.”
The government’s updated blueprint for UK foreign and defence policy – the “refreshed” integrated review published last month – described China under Communist party rule as representing an “epoch-defining and systemic challenge” to almost every aspect of government policy and the everyday lives of British people.
But Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, remains under pressure from some MPs within his own party to take a tougher stance against Beijing.
Liz Truss recently labelled Emmanuel Macron’s trip to China a “sign of weakness”, after the French president asked Beijing for support in ending the Ukraine conflict – the latest of a series of foreign policy interventions from the former prime minister designed to encourage Sunak to take a tougher approach towards China.
On Monday, US authorities arrested two men for allegedly setting up one such outpost in New York and charged dozens of Chinese security officials over a campaign to monitor and harass US-based dissidents.
The arrests of Harry Lu Jianwang, 61, and Chen Jinping, 59, were the first anywhere over the alleged campaign by China to establish secret police stations around the world, US prosecutors said.
China denies any such campaign, and accused the US government of “slandering, smearing (and) engaging in political manipulation” following the New York arrests.
Beijing’s embassy in London said of The Times allegations: “We have made it clear many times that there are no so-called ‘overseas police stations’.
“China adheres to the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs, strictly observes international laws and respects the judicial sovereignty of all countries”.
It warned against the media quoting “hearsay” and spreading “false accusations”.
ALSO READ-COP28 President-designate concludes visit to China
