Information
Two men, identified as C. Berry, 32, and C. Cash, 29, have been charged under the UK’s Official Secrets Act for allegedly passing prejudicial information to China. The Crown Prosecution Service stated that the information shared was detrimental to the safety or interests of the state. This announcement follows an extensive investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, with Commander Dominic Murphy emphasizing the severity of the allegations. The case underscores Britain’s growing concerns regarding Chinese espionage, particularly after a parliamentary researcher was arrested last year for suspected spying activities targeting officials in critical sectors like politics, defence, and business.
The two suspects were initially detained in March of the previous year, with one arrested in Oxfordshire and the other in Edinburgh. They were released on police bail as the investigation progressed. The decision to charge them was approved by the UK Attorney General earlier this month. The incident coincides with similar espionage-related arrests in Germany, where three German nationals were apprehended for allegedly spying for China by providing access to confidential maritime technology. These developments reflect a broader international concern regarding Chinese intelligence activities and their potential implications for national security and strategic interests.
Source: AFP, AP
So what
These arrests go to show the growing risk that European states are facing from Chinese espionage activities; while these threats have been severe for the countries closer to China (USA, Aus, NZ), until recently, it has not been acknowledged in a similar way within Europe. Regardless of how the general public perceives this, it is likely that there will be a significant increase in attention to Chinese investment and other activities in the future. There is also the possibility that Chinese intelligence will increase their EU operations to support the Russian war effort.
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