Chinese intelligence officers attempted to recruit “thousands” of people linked to Westminster in a wide-ranging online operation, according to Whitehall sources cited by Times UK. The campaign targeted parliamentary staff, advisers, economists, think tank employees, and consultants in what officials described as an effort to exploit the “weak underbelly of parliament.”
MI5 identified two recruiters, Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen, as key operatives in the operation. The pair allegedly approached numerous individuals using LinkedIn accounts tied to China’s Ministry of State Security. Officials said the aim was to cultivate contacts “one step removed” from high-priority political figures to gain access to sensitive information.
“They kissed a lot of frogs,” a Whitehall source told Times UK, describing the scattergun nature of the operation. “They sent out thousands of approaches. Some were dismissed as spam, but they only need one in hundreds to respond.”
Those contacted included advisers to former Conservative and Labour ministers, officials at multiple think tanks including the Tony Blair Institute, and parliamentary staff with ties to sanctioned politicians. Messages often offered remote consultancy work or praised recipients as “excellent candidates.” Several individuals, including former special advisers, reportedly ignored the approaches.
Security officials warned MPs and the public to be wary of unsolicited online contact from potential Chinese intelligence operatives. Defence Minister Luke Pollard urged ordinary Britons to take similar precautions, highlighting the increasing risks as more professional interactions move online.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle emphasized the “utmost importance” of understanding these operations and protecting parliamentary staff from exploitation. The National Protective Security Authority, part of MI5, has also noted that Chinese operatives have used fake job adverts to lure professionals.
A Chinese embassy spokesperson dismissed the allegations as “pure fabrication” and a “self-staged charade.” Meanwhile, ministers plan to meet university vice-chancellors to warn them of espionage risks and launch a government campaign to “disrupt and deter” foreign intelligence activities.
