The White House has warned Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer that Britain’s failure to prosecute two alleged Chinese spies risks undermining trust between London and Washington, The Times of London reported. Senior U.S. officials told the newspaper that President Donald Trump is increasingly concerned about the UK’s reliability as a security partner after prosecutors dropped charges against two Britons accused of spying for Beijing.
Chris Cash, a 30-year-old former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry, 33, an academic, were charged in 2024 under the Official Secrets Act with allegedly passing intelligence to China. But the case collapsed last month after the government failed to provide evidence that China posed a national security threat at the time — a requirement under the Act. Both men have maintained their innocence.
A senior Trump administration official told The Times: “The United States has been warning allies about the Chinese threat to our combined national security since President Trump first came into office in 2017. The U.S. government exercises extreme caution in sharing information with foreign governments subject to adversarial coercion and influence. We are especially careful in jurisdictions where our adversaries can act with impunity.”
The warning comes as political fallout in London intensifies. Senior Republicans, including John Moolenaar, chair of the U.S. House of Representatives’ China committee, urged the UK to revive the case, saying: “It is my hope that the UK government will not allow this case to falter and will take the steps necessary to ensure proper justice is served.”
The Times reported that tensions are growing within Starmer’s government amid allegations that the prosecution was dropped to appease Beijing and protect Chinese investment. One cabinet minister was quoted as saying the decision “had to be taken to avoid jeopardizing future funding” from China. Former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove called it “completely unspeakable” if the government had caved to Chinese pressure, warning that National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell’s handling of the issue raised “serious questions” about his suitability for the role.
Powell, a former Downing Street chief of staff, is under mounting scrutiny following claims he told Whitehall officials Beijing could not be described as an “enemy” in the trial — effectively derailing the prosecution. The Crown Prosecution Service and government officials are now blaming each other for the case’s collapse.
Adding to the controversy, The Times revealed that China’s ambassador to London, Zheng Zeguang, warned British officials that Beijing would not resubmit plans for a new Chinese embassy unless it received approval. Meanwhile, Jingye, the Chinese owner of British Steel, reportedly offered to waive a £1 billion compensation claim against the UK government if the embassy project was approved.
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, accused the government of “deliberately collapsing the China spy case” and “misleading the public,” saying Starmer’s actions had endangered national security. The Liberal Democrats and opposition Conservatives are both demanding an emergency parliamentary debate, with some Tory MPs exploring whether criminal charges could be pursued under the new National Security Act.
The diplomatic row unfolds as Trump reignites his trade war with China, raising tariffs to 130% after Beijing blocked exports of key minerals vital to defense and technology industries. The Times noted that Trump has already personally warned Starmer against allowing a massive new Chinese embassy near sensitive financial centers in London.
As pressure builds in Westminster, Starmer faces one of the gravest crises of his premiership — a clash between Britain’s economic ties with China and its most vital security partnership with the United States.
