BeijingdetectiveAnd interference activities have recently become a hot topic in British newspapers and tabloids. It has now been reported that China has hidden insects in tea sets given to British diplomats posted in China. This could be described as a “communist espionage storm in a teapot”. ,
The Sun, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that a former British ambassador to ChinaEmbassyBefore leaving office and returning to England, the officials received a farewell gift from the Chinese side: a set of tea sets. This officer liked this tea set very much. After returning to England, he would take out this tea set whenever he enjoyed Chinese cuisine at home.
People familiar with the matter said that one day, during the cleaning process, this set of tea sets from China was accidentally broken on the ground. The former officer stationed in China began picking up the pieces and suddenly discovered that there was a recording device hidden in the tea set.
“The Sun” reported that it is not believed that the recording equipment monitored any secret or sensitive information, but the incident shows that China will use all possible methods to steal secrets.
The Times reported on the 9th that two British men were arrested in March this year on suspicion of engaging in “espionage” activities for Beijing and are currently on police bail until early October.
One of the suspects arrested in March was a former Congressional researcher and staff member. Because of his extensive connections in Congress, government agencies, think tanks, and advocacy groups, the relevant reports were akin to dropping a shock bomb on the British political arena, and suspicions of “communist espionage” suddenly arose.
However, neither the former parliamentary researcher nor the other suspect have yet been charged. Most British media have also considered journalistic ethics and have not requested The Times to name him, including The Sun.
The Intelligence and Security Committee of the British Parliament released the “China Report” in July, which noted that China obtains information through covert and overt methods, and that China’s intelligence system is “almost certainly the largest in the world.”
In a formal response to the report, submitted on 14 September, the British government pointed out that China’s rapidly developing network, surveillance, data collection and analysis capabilities, as well as its vast intelligence and counter-intelligence resources, pose serious challenges to the UK. produce.
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