China’s embassy in London has sharply criticized the UK’s handling of allegations that a Chinese businessman, Tengbo Yang, linked to Prince Andrew, is a Communist Party spy. In a statement issued on Tuesday, a Chinese embassy spokesperson urged the UK to “stop creating trouble” and accused British lawmakers of “arrogance and shamelessness” in their handling of the case.
According to the Financial Times, the accusations stem from a UK court ruling that allowed Yang to be publicly identified despite a national security ban imposed on him. The UK government’s security minister, Dan Jarvis, welcomed the decision, warning that the case was part of broader efforts by foreign states, including China, to undermine Britain’s security.
Yang, a 50-year-old Chinese national, had extensive business connections, including links to Prince Andrew, as well as access to senior British political and business figures. He was also photographed with former Conservative prime ministers, David Cameron and Theresa May. MI5, the UK’s domestic counterintelligence service, alleges that Yang is a member of the Chinese Communist Party working for the United Front Work Department, an organization suspected of gathering intelligence on behalf of the Chinese government.
Yang has denied the accusations, calling the label of “spy” entirely false. In a statement following the court ruling, he claimed he had fallen victim to a changing political climate, asserting that when UK-China relations were positive, he was welcomed in the UK, but when tensions rose, an anti-China stance led to his exclusion.
The Financial Times notes that tensions over Yang’s case come at a sensitive time for UK-China relations. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government has been attempting to strengthen ties with Beijing, with Starmer meeting President Xi Jinping in November 2024, a move that promised to build “consistent, durable, respectful” relations between the two countries.
China has strongly condemned the actions of some UK MPs, accusing them of attempting to smear China and target the Chinese community in the UK. A spokesperson for the embassy defended the United Front Work Department, calling it a legitimate initiative aimed at fostering cooperation and friendship between China and non-Communist Party members across the world.
