China ‘resolutely opposes’ UK spying allegations
China’s embassy in London earlier lashed out at the media reports, with a spokesperson branding the claim a 'political farce'
Daily TribuneChina’s embassy in London earlier lashed out at the media reports, with a spokesperson branding the claim a 'political farce'
Beijing, China — China said on Monday it "resolutely opposes" allegations that an espionage suspect arrested in the United Kingdom was gathering information for Beijing.
British police said at the weekend they had arrested a man in his twenties at his home in Edinburgh for spying, with the Sunday Times reporting he was a researcher in Britain's parliament.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service arrested him in March, along with another man in his thirties, on suspicion of offences under the Official Secrets Act and both have been bailed until October.
"The so-called claim that China is conducting espionage activities against the UK is pure fabrication," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a news conference. "China resolutely opposes this."
"We urge the UK to stop spreading disinformation and stop its anti-China political manipulation and malicious slander," she added.
China's embassy in London earlier lashed out at the media reports, with a spokesperson branding the claim a "political farce."
The arrests led British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to tell Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the G20 summit in New Delhi that he had "very strong concerns" about Beijing's "interference" in democracy.
"I raised a range of different concerns that we have in areas of disagreement and, in particular, my very strong concerns about any interference in our parliamentary democracy, which is obviously unacceptable," Sunak told British broadcasters of his meeting with Li.
