Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel has accused UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of adopting a “desperate” approach to China, prioritising economic ties over national security. Patel’s remarks, reported in The Sunday Times, highlight concerns over Beijing’s alleged incursions into UK affairs, including espionage, intellectual property theft, and cyberactivity.
Patel called for China to be designated as a threat under the forthcoming Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, a move that would place Xi Jinping’s regime in the highest risk category. She criticised Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves for seeking closer economic ties with Beijing, citing Reeves’ planned visit to China in January to reopen the economic and financial dialogue with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.
“We’re dealing with an extraordinary regime that, for over a decade, has had all sorts of incursions in our country,” Patel said. “From national security and intellectual property to cyberactivity and misinformation, especially during COVID, the impact was significant. And then, of course, spies.”
Starmer recently met President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in November, marking the first such meeting between a UK prime minister and the Chinese leader since Theresa May’s visit in 2018. Patel, however, expressed alarm at the government’s willingness to engage with Beijing amidst allegations of Chinese espionage in the UK.
“The case we’re speaking about now involves a spy within Whitehall, yet this government says ‘there’s nothing to see here,’” Patel remarked. “They’ve booked their tickets to China to resume talks while economic growth is declining. This, to me, smacks of a desperate government, desperate for foreign money.”
The criticism follows high-profile cases of alleged Chinese influence in the UK. Businessman Yang Tengbo, linked to prominent figures like the Duke of York and former prime ministers, recently lost his appeal against being banned from entering the UK on security grounds. Yang denied allegations of espionage, calling them “entirely untrue.”
Additionally, judges upheld MI5’s decision to issue a warning in 2022 about Christine Lee, a lawyer accused of engaging in political interference on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party. Lee had made significant donations to Labour MP Barry Gardiner, who later claimed he was unaware of her alleged ties to Beijing. Lee dismissed the accusations as politically motivated to benefit the Conservative Party.
The renewed scrutiny of the government’s approach to China comes as the UK faces broader challenges balancing economic engagement with safeguarding national interests. While Reeves’ upcoming visit aims to rebuild financial ties, Patel’s warnings underscore fears of potential risks posed by closer collaboration with Beijing.