MI5 has raised a red flag for Members of Parliament (MPs) concerning a series of attempts by Chinese spies to “recruit and nurture” individuals within Westminster.
During a session in the Commons, Security Minister Dan Jarvis disclosed that Chinese intelligence operatives are masquerading as companies or external recruiters to entice MPs, Lords, and Parliamentary personnel. It has come to light that they are leveraging LinkedIn profiles under the guise of two women in their efforts to gather information.
Addressing MPs, Mr. Jarvis issued a startling statement: “Earlier today, MI5 dispatched a warning to members of this House, the Lords, and Parliamentary staff regarding the ongoing targeting of our democratic institutions by Chinese entities.”
He cautioned that China places little value on the type of information deemed significant. Mr. Jarvis emphasized, “Our intelligence agencies have cautioned that China is making attempts to enlist and nurture individuals with access to confidential details about Parliament and the UK government. MI5 has indicated that this scheme is orchestrated by a cluster of Chinese intelligence officers, often concealed through front companies or external recruiters.”
“It is not only parliamentarians who should be on high alert; parliamentary staff, economists, think tank professionals, geopolitical advisors, and government officials have all been subjects of interest due to their networks and connections to policymakers,” he added.
Mr. Jarvis revealed that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper had engaged with her Chinese counterpart, asserting a firm stance that such activities “will not be accepted.” Additionally, the Government pledged to combat “covert political financing” to weed out potential spies.
Efforts are underway to grant the Government new powers to counter foreign interference. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle issued a communication to MPs on Tuesday, shedding light on the Chinese Ministry of State Security’s attempts to establish contact with individuals in Westminster.
“Their objective is to gather information and cultivate long-term relationships, utilizing professional networking platforms, recruitment agencies, and consultants acting on their behalf,” Sir Lindsay noted.
The warning specifically identified two headhunters, Amanda Qiu (BR-YR Executive Search) and Shirly Shen (Internship Union), known for leveraging LinkedIn profiles to represent China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) in their outreach efforts.
The MI5 alert underscored, “The Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) is keen on gathering sensitive information about the UK to secure strategic advantages.”
In a significant move, Mr. Jarvis announced an allocation of £170 million to upgrade the sovereign-encrypted technology employed by officials. Furthermore, £130 million will be dedicated to enhancing the UK’s resilience against threats posed by nations like China.