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The researcher has had links to several senior Tory MPs, including security minister Tom Tugendhat and foreign affairs committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns. He was arrested along with another man by officers on March 13 on suspicion of spying for Beijing, it was revealed by the Sunday Times.<\/p>\n
Officers from the Metropolitan Police\u2019s Counter Terrorism Command, which oversees espionage-related offences, are investigating. One of the men, in his 30s, was detained in Oxfordshire on March 13, while the other, in his 20s, was arrested in Edinburgh, Scotland Yard said.<\/p>\n
Both were held on suspicion of offences under section one of the Official Secrets Act 1911, which punishes offences that are said to be \u201cprejudicial to the safety or interests of the state\u201d.<\/p>\n
Read more… <\/strong> Britain ‘looks like soft underbelly’ as Cleverly warned not to ‘appease China’<\/strong><\/p>\n A Met Police spokesperson said: “Searches were also carried out at both the residential properties, as well as at a third address in east London.\u201d<\/p>\n Both men were held at a south London police station until being bailed until early October. Mr Tugendhat is said not to have had any contact with the researcher since before he became security minister in September last year.<\/p>\n Ms Kearns declined to comment, adding: \u201cWhile I recognise the public interest, we all have a duty to ensure any work of the authorities is not jeopardised.\u201d<\/p>\n The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China pressure group said it was \u201cappalled at reports of the infiltration of the UK Parliament by someone allegedly acting on behalf of the People\u2019s Republic of China\u201d.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n A source close to Ms Kearns told the PA news agency: \u201cIt is inevitable the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) would target and seek to undermine Parliament\u2019s leading voices who have demonstrated the ability to constrain the CCP\u2019s ambitions.\u201d<\/p>\n They said that the allegations, if true, would be a \u201cserious escalation and shows the CCP will go to any length to attack thorns in their side\u201d.<\/p>\n The arrests emerged a little over a week after Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visited Beijing amid criticism from some senior Conservatives, who are critics of China. He insisted the UK would have a \u201cpragmatic\u201d relationship with China to tackle major global issues such as climate change.<\/p>\n Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, one of the party\u2019s most prominent China hawks, warned of a \u201cdeepening threat\u201d being posed by the country under President Xi Jinping. Sir Iain told PA: \u201cThis story gives the lie to the Government\u2019s attempt not to see China as a systemic threat.<\/p>\n \u201cTime for us to recognise the deepening threat that the CCP under Xi now pose. What price was Cleverly\u2019s kowtow visit to Beijing?\u201d<\/p>\n A report from Parliament\u2019s spy agency watchdog, the Intelligence and Security Committee, warned in July that Beijing is targeting the UK \u201cprolifically and aggressively\u201d. Last year, MI5 issued a rare security alert, warning MPs that a suspected Chinese spy called Christine Lee had engaged in \u201cpolitical interference activities\u201d on behalf of China\u2019s ruling communist regime.<\/p>\n Labour MP Barry Gardiner, the former chairman of the now disbanded Chinese in Britain APPG, received more than \u00a3500,000 in donations from her before the warning. Downing Street said it does not comment on security matters. The House of Commons has been contacted.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/Tom-Tugendhat-4952003.jpg?r=1694293494989\")
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