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Christine Lee, a lawyer accused of trying to interfere in British politics on behalf of the Chinese government, lost her lawsuit against Britain’s domestic intelligence agency MI5 on Tuesday.
The tribunal’s decision came a day after British authorities named Chinese national Yang Tengbo as a suspected spy who had close ties to Prince Andrew and was photographed with two British prime ministers.
Here’s the latest.
Who is Yang Tengbo?
Yang, 50, also known as Chris Yang, is listed as a director of Hampton Group International, a management consultancy that advises UK-based companies on their activities in China. He has been photographed at events with senior British politicians, including former prime ministers David Cameron and Theresa May.
Yang is reportedly a key member of Pitch@Palace China, an initiative launched by Prince Andrew to support entrepreneurs.
Yang worked as a young civil servant in China before coming to the UK to study in 2002. Before starting his company, he earned a master’s degree in public administration and public policy from the University of York.
In 2013 he was granted the right to live and work in the UK indefinitely.
What happened to Prince Andrew?
Details of Yang’s case emerged last week before a court, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), which upheld a decision by British authorities to ban Yang from entering the UK in 2023. The Interior Ministry said he was believed to have carried out “covert actions and fraudulent activities” for the Chinese Communist Party.
The judges agreed with Britain’s MI5 that Yang “posed a threat to national security” and dismissed his appeal. The court heard that in 2021 authorities found documents showing how close Yang was to Prince Andrew, King Charles’ younger brother.
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A letter from a senior adviser to Andrew told Yang: “Outside of (Andrew’s) closest internal confidants, you sit at the top of a tree that many, many people would like to sit on.”
Britain’s Home Office told Yang it had reason to believe he was “carrying out or had previously carried out covert and fraudulent activities on behalf of the United Front Work Department (UFWD), a branch of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) state.” “. Apparatus,” says a letter cited in the SIAC decision.
The court said that when questioned by immigration authorities, Yang failed to give a full account of his relationship with the prince.
Authorities have not released what information Yang allegedly received or sought to receive. However, the court cited a 2022 statement from the MI5 director that described the United Front Work Department’s goals as gaining and exercising influence, amplifying pro-China voices and silencing critics of the Chinese government’s authority bring.
Who is Christine Lee?
The British Security Service issued a security alert to all lawmakers in January 2022, warning that London-based lawyer Christine Lee was knowingly involved in “political interference activities in the United Kingdom” in coordination with the United Front Work Department.
Lee’s firm, Christine Lee & Co., provided legal services primarily to the British Chinese community and acted as legal advisor to the Chinese Embassy in London. According to official records, she donated £500,000 (C$906,000) to Labor MP Barry Gardiner, mostly for office costs. Her son, Daniel Wilks, worked as Gardiner’s assistant for five years.
During Theresa May’s term, Lee once received a commendation from the Prime Minister’s Office for “promoting engagement, understanding and cooperation between the Chinese and British communities in the United Kingdom.”
On Tuesday, three Investigatory Powers Tribunal judges unanimously rejected Lee’s claims, saying MI5 had issued the political interference warning for “legitimate reasons”.
The answer from Beijing
Yang strongly denied the espionage allegations and said he was a victim of a changing political climate that has led to increased tensions between Britain and China.
“I did nothing wrong or unlawful,” he said in a statement. “The popular description of me as a ‘spy’ is completely false.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian called the espionage allegations against Yang “ridiculous” on Tuesday, while the Chinese embassy in Britain condemned British lawmakers for “defaming” China.
Lee, who has not been charged with any crime, argued that the security warning directed at her was political in nature and that it violated her human rights.
The reaction in the British Parliament
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was concerned about the challenge from China but stood by his government’s strategy of engagement and cooperation with Beijing.
Starmer, who took office this summer, has sought to repair frayed relations and in November became the first British leader to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping since 2018.
Opposition MP Iain Duncan Smith, a leading critic of Beijing, said this glosses over the clear threat China poses.
“The reality is that many more are involved in exactly this type of espionage,” he said.
Another royal headache
Andrew’s office said the king met Yang on Friday “through official channels” and that nothing sensitive was ever discussed. The statement did not specify the date the prince “stopped all contact” with Yang.
Andrew was appointed the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment in 2001. However, he was forced to resign in 2011 as concerns grew over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution.
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“When a Chinese spy befriends a royal family, he wants access to the British state. We need to know whether the royal family has given him what they want,” said Republic leader Graham Smith.
