Chinese spies have bugged parks and pubs around the Houses of Parliament in a desperate attempt to bag state secrets, spy chiefs have warned. Government officials holding sensitive and crucial positions have been warned about “hotspots” to avoid Beijing’s potential intelligence collecting operations around Westminster.
Some of these allegedly risky locations include the Red Lion pub, right by Parliament, which one source claimed was “full of Chinese agents”. Even a lunchtime stroll in the park for government staff could be compromising national security as Xi Jinping’s spies are eavesdropping and fishing for information by bugging park benches, sources have claimed.
One source said: “We have been told the Chinese literally have the park bugged, with devices in the bushes and under park benches.” The seemingly innocent St James’s Park, by Parliament, has been targeted because it is a popular spot for civil servants and parliamentary researchers to eat their lunch.
Other alleged popular bugging locations have included five star hotels in the area like Raffles on Whitehall and the Corinthia near Trafalgar Square. Beijing has seen the hundreds of people that work in the government, including junior staffers for MPs, as targets for information gathering.
A source added: “Commons researchers are regarded by the Chinese, and other spies including the Russians and Iranians, as the soft underbelly of Whitehall.” Chinese spies and hackers have long been believed to be targeting UK officials and even the royals.
Prince Andrew has been caught up in a worrying scandal over his links with an alleged Chinese spy. Yang Tengbo, who formed relationships with key British figures, was banned from the UK last year but has previously said he had “done nothing wrong or unlawful”.
Parliament and other parts of the British authorities have faced daily attacks to protect itself from hostile groups and hackers, looking to get their hands on secret information. This has included doctors treating British soldiers who alleged they have been targeted by the Chinese who are looking to steal patient data, according to the Mail on Sunday.
Some of these healthcare professionals have also allegedly been given worrying advice such as not taking their mobile phones into appointments and keeping paper rather than online records. One of these doctors said: “I have a real problem with the Chinese trying to get my communications.”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “We know China is building a spying and repression network right here in the UK.”
Chinese spy scandals have previously rocked parliament like when Westminster was told “an agent of the Chinese government” is “active in Parliament”. MI5 issued a rare “interference alert” about lawyer Christine Lee – who rubbed shoulder with prime ministers and MPs – in 2022.2
The security agency told MPs she engaged in “political interference activities” for China’s communist regime. At the time, MI5 said: “Lee has publicly stated that her activities are to represent the UK Chinese community and increase diversity.
“However, the aforementioned activity has been undertaken in covert coordination with the UFWD, with funding provided by foreign nationals located in China and Hong Kong.”
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