On the 22nd (local time), the UK prosecution charged two individuals with espionage for China. One of them was confirmed to have worked as a former parliamentary researcher.
The UK Crown Prosecution Service announced that it has charged two people, former parliamentary researchers Christopher Cash (29) and Christopher Berry (32), with providing information harmful to the state to China. They are scheduled to appear in court on the 26th.
According to The Times, Cash is accused of espionage while working as a researcher for Alicia Kearns, Chair of the Conservative Party's Foreign Affairs Select Committee in the House of Commons. He is also suspected of having connections with Tom Tugendhat, the Minister of State for Security at the Home Office.
The Chinese Embassy in London strongly denied the allegations that China attempted to steal UK information, calling them completely fabricated. In a statement, it said, "We firmly oppose this and urge the UK side to stop anti-China political manipulation and staged acts."
Concerns about Chinese espionage activities have been growing across European countries recently. On the same day, three German nationals were arrested in Germany on suspicion of diverting defense industry technology to Chinese intelligence agencies.
According to German prosecutors, since June 2022, these individuals allegedly obtained technology related to warship engine parts through a company they operated in D?sseldorf, under a technology transfer cooperation agreement with a German university.
The prosecution stated that they were negotiating additional projects necessary to enhance China's naval power, funded by the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the Chinese intelligence agency. The charges also include illegally exporting special laser equipment subject to European Union (EU) regulations to China with MSS payments without authorization.
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