China rejects UK's 'Chinese spying has risen' claim, says smear, groundless accusations unacceptable
When asked to comment on a UK report which alleged that "Chinese spying" has risen in recent years and that British Foreign Minister David Lammy told parliament that his administration is investing over $800 million into the investigation as a result, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Wednesday said that China is committed to the path of peaceful development. "We never pose a threat to any country, nor do we interfere in other countries' internal affairs," Guo stated.
"Both China and the UK are permanent members of the UN Security Council and major economies in the world. To grow bilateral ties and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation is in the interest of the two countries and the rest of the world," said Guo at a regular press briefing on Wednesday.
"China stands ready to grow its ties with the UK based on mutual respect and proper management of the differences, but we never accept any smear or groundless accusation," Guo said.
The spokesperson's remarks came after London published a report on Tuesday, which recommended high-level engagement with China for a "trade and investment relationship" but also building "resilience" against threats posed by Beijing, AFP reported on Tuesday.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer commissioned an "audit" of Britain's relations with Beijing after he swept to power in a landslide general election win last July, AFP noted.
According to AFP, the report claimed that "Chinese spying and attempts by Beijing to undermine Britain's democracy and economy have risen in recent years."
Lammy told parliament the Labor administration would invest £600 million ($818 million) in its intelligence services as a result of the findings.
"We understand that China is a sophisticated and persistent threat," but "not engaging with China is therefore no choice at all," Lammy told MPs.
According to the website of the UK government on Tuesday, Lammy also made improper remarks on Taiwan, Hong Kong, the South China Sea, and so-called human rights issues.
In response, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the UK said on Wednesday that we firmly oppose the erroneous remarks in the statements and report by the British side that smears China as a "threat," makes groundless accusations against China and interferes in China's internal affairs.
The embassy spokesperson said that the facts fully demonstrate that China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order. China's development does not pose a challenge or threat to any country but instead creates opportunities for shared growth worldwide.
Allegations of Chinese espionage, cyberattacks or so-called "transnational repression" are entirely fabricated and constitute malicious slander. The Taiwan question, Hong Kong issues, and human rights issues are purely China's internal affairs, in which no external force has the right to interfere. China's resolve to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests is unwavering, and we will never allow any external forces to provoke trouble, according to the spokesperson.
"We urge the UK to recognize the broader landscape, adopt a correct mindset and completely abandon its Cold War mentality and ideological bias. Only by maintaining an accurate understanding of China and adhering to the principles of mutual respect and open cooperation can China-UK dialogue and exchanges across all fields proceed smoothly, ensuring the steady and enduring development of bilateral relations," said the embassy spokesperson.
When commenting on the British report and Lammy's remarks, Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies, China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday that by simultaneously sending two conflicting policy signals - one for cooperation and another portraying China as a "threat" - the UK government is eroding the very foundation of mutual trust necessary for stable bilateral relations.
"Such contradictory messaging will inevitably create practical disruptions in China-UK relations," Cui warned.
According to AFP, Starmer has vowed to pursue a "consistent" relationship after the previous Conservative government first trumpeted a "golden era" of close diplomatic ties before relations became increasingly strained. The British prime minister hopes Chinese investment can help him achieve his main mission of firing up Britain's economy, AFP claimed.
"While we recognize the Starmer administration's stated intention to recalibrate Britain's foreign policy approach toward China, the fundamental logic underlying both parties' China policies remains remarkably similar. Their so-called 'balanced strategy' essentially follows a 'have-them-all' approach: pursuing economic benefits through cooperation with China while maintaining ideological distance and emotional resistance toward China," said Cui. "This new report perfectly encapsulates this dual mentality," the expert noted.