The British Prime Minister ripped into China after news broke that a researcher working on staff for a member of parliament was, in fact, a Chinese spy.
But he stopped short of giving it a proper denunciation.
The Sunday Times reported that the younger man was a parliamentary researcher who worked with senior lawmakers from the governing Conservatives, including Alicia Kearns, who now heads the powerful Foreign Affairs Committee, and her predecessor in that role, Tom Tugendhat, who is now security minister. The newspaper said the suspect held a pass that allows full access to the Parliament buildings, issued to lawmakers, staff and journalists after security vetting.
Tensions between Britain and China have risen in recent years over accusations of economic subterfuge, human rights abuses and Beijing’s crackdown on civil liberties in the former British colony of Hong Kong.
Britain’s Conservatives are divided on how tough a line to take with Beijing and on how much access Chinese firms should have to the U.K. economy. More hawkish Tories want Beijing declared a threat, but Sunak has referred to China’s growing power as a “challenge.” — ABC
The UK sees the size of China’s economy and is wavering about whether to take a hard line on China or to be conciliatory. Even the discovery of a spy working in Parliament wasn’t enough to raise anything more than a tepid dismay.
U.K. Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said Britain should avoid calling China a “foe” or using language that could “escalate” tensions.
“China is a country that we do a lot of business with,” Badenoch told Sky News. “China is a country that is significant in terms of world economics. It sits on the U.N. Security Council. We certainly should not be describing China as a foe, but we can describe it as a challenge.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman, Max Blain, said it was wrong to reduce the U.K.’s approach to China “just to one word.” — WaPo
Meanwhile, here’s a quick recap of some of the issues Gallagher and the CCP committee have been quietly digging into.
“It makes no sense that we restrict the export of sensitive technologies to China but allow Wall Street to fund Chinese companies trying to overtake us in these same technologies with clear military applications.” — Chairman @RepGallagher https://t.co/W1xc73SVjM
— The Select Committee on the CCP (@committeeonccp) September 5, 2023
“The price of even sitting down with the Chinese Communist Party is that we slow down our defensive action…
Most importantly of all, we need to rebuild our military, our Navy… We’re simply not moving fast enough.” — Chairman @RepGallagher pic.twitter.com/UcZFD1als8
— The Select Committee on the CCP (@committeeonccp) September 5, 2023
“I don’t think university endowments should be allowed to invest in China.” — Chairman @RepGallagher told @SundayFutures.
“[These are] the same endowments lecturing us about so-called ‘ESG’ investing… China is probably the worst environmental actor in the world.” pic.twitter.com/VQxoVSC0gE
— The Select Committee on the CCP (@committeeonccp) September 5, 2023
“[The CCP] often threatens people based on taking action against their families in mainland China. In that respect they operate very much like a mafia organization.” — Chairman @RepGallagher shared with @DanaPerino and @BillHemmer yesterday. pic.twitter.com/3V7ZpUjjeF
— The Select Committee on the CCP (@committeeonccp) September 6, 2023
Last week, @committeeonccp held a roundtable in Stoughton, Wisconsin, to discuss Communist China’s predatory trade with U.S. manufacturers. pic.twitter.com/czAqKXc0QJ
— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) September 6, 2023
“The time has come to end all U.S. technology exports to both @Huawei and SMIC to make clear any firm that flouts U.S. law and undermines our national security will be cut off from our technology.” — Chairman @RepGallagher https://t.co/OxUN19UJMu
— The Select Committee on the CCP (@committeeonccp) September 7, 2023
This is how you know they are getting some traction:
“@BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management firm, announced the closure of an offshore China equity fund after it was probed by a US House Select Committee for allegedly funneling American investments into shares of blacklisted Chinese firms.” https://t.co/Hy43DnKQf1
— The Select Committee on the CCP (@committeeonccp) September 8, 2023
The U.S. has seen a tremendous increase in the number of acres being purchased—investments that have grown by a factor of 10 over the last decade.
Through my work with the @committeeonccp, we have noticed this trend and recognize something must be done to protect our homeland. pic.twitter.com/DyH77hKcYb
— Rep. Dan Newhouse (@RepNewhouse) September 8, 2023
Meanwhile, Joe Biden — whose family has been personally enriched by the CCP — has no objection to a strong China.
And why would he, so long as the check clears?
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