Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he had raised his concern over any Chinese interference in Britain鈥檚 parliamentary democracy during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at a G20 summit in India, after the reported arrest of two alleged spies.
The Sunday Times reported that one of the people arrested on suspicion of spying for China was a researcher in the British parliament.
Mr. Sunak said he was limited in what he could say about an ongoing investigation but told reporters he had raised 鈥渉is very strong concerns about any interference in our parliamentary democracy, which is obviously unacceptable鈥, with Mr. Li.
London鈥檚 Metropolitan Police said two men were arrested in March under the Official Secrets Act, and had been released on police bail until early October.
The allegations potentially undermine Mr. Sunak鈥檚 bid for more dialogue with China, illustrated by a visit by foreign minister James聽聽last week.
Mr. Sunak鈥檚 Conservative government has sought a thaw in relations with China, engaging with Beijing on matters such as climate change but also criticising it in several areas including human rights.
Mr. Sunak said he raised areas where there are disagreements, but the meeting showed the value of the strategy of engaging 鈥渨here it makes sense鈥.
鈥淚 think the right thing to do was take the opportunity to engage, to raise concerns specifically, rather than just shouting from the sidelines,鈥 he said.
A Chinese readout from the meeting did not mention the spying allegation but welcomed Britain鈥檚 expanded practical cooperation with China, adding Mr. Li had said that 鈥渢he two sides should properly handle their differences鈥.
However, the Chinese embassy in the UK responded to the arrests, saying the allegations were made up and that China firmly opposed them.
鈥淭he so-called claim that China is suspected of 鈥榮tealing British intelligence鈥 is completely fabricated and malicious slander,鈥 the embassy said on its website, urging relevant parties to stop anti-China political manipulation and 鈥渟elf-directed political farce鈥.
Iain Duncan Smith, Conservative lawmaker and China critic, said Beijing鈥檚 attitude seriously questioned Sunak鈥檚 approach.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 a dialogue. I think it鈥檚 a kind of pathetic monologue,鈥 Duncan Smith, who has been sanctioned by China, told Times Radio. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 actually going on is China is ignoring much of what we say.鈥 鈥 Reuters
