MI5 chief criticizes failure to investigate Chinese espionage cases

The head of the British domestic intelligence service MI5, Ken McCallum, expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision to close the investigation into alleged Chinese espionage in the UK. Such a situation weakens confidence in the state's ability to respond to security threats, he said. McCallum emphasized that Chinese actors pose a daily threat to the United Kingdom.

Last month, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped charges against two British citizens who were alleged to have passed sensitive information to Beijing. The government failed to provide evidence that China posed a threat to UK national security.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been criticized for seeking to ease tensions with Beijing in order to strengthen economic ties. The government released statements by Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Collins, who described China as “the greatest state-sponsored economic threat” but also emphasized the need for positive cooperation.

The Chinese embassy in London dismissed the allegations as unfounded. British parliamentary committees announced an investigation into the entire situation.

(reuters, sie)