China hawks urge unity on spy row

It’s been a difficult week for Sinosceptics in Westminster, following the revelation that a parliamentary researcher was arrested in March on suspicion of spying for China. Much of the media attention has focused on the MPs to whom the researcher was linked: namely Alicia Kearns and Tom Tugendhat. For the past three years they have championed the ‘cautious engagement’ school of thought on China. This is in contrast to the more hardline position adopted by Sir Iain Duncan Smith and supporters in the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China. 

The two bands have sometimes clashed since Ipac’s formation in June 2020. But now, amid attempts by Chinese state media to turn the national security row into a petty party feud, Ipac has sought to offer solidarity to the likes of Tugendhat and Kearns. Luke de Pulford, Ipac’s co-ordinator, told Steerpike that

If it turns out [the accused] was indeed spying for China, Tom and Alicia were clearly victims.