Will Britain now take the threat of Chinese espionage seriously?

The UK has long been aware of the risk of cyber-attacks emanating from China. Back in 2007, the head of MI5 Jonathan Evans warned hundreds of British businesses about Chinese cyber-operations targeting the UK. Yet the risk from Chinese spies operating in the UK is less well understood. This is why it came as such a shock to so many when MI5 warned MPs and peers this week that the lawyer Christine Lee was allegedly seeking to influence parliamentarians on behalf of the Chinese Communist party. 

A law firm that bears Lee’s name made political donations totalling £675,000, of which £584,177 were ‘donations in kind’ to the office of Labour MP Barry Gardiner. She also received a Points of Light award – which has since been rescinded – from Theresa May when she was prime minister.

Chinese espionage has a long history in the UK. The post-revolution Chinese Embassy in London was set up in 1962 by one of China’s greatest spies, Xiong Xianghui.