Following the prosecution of three men in the UK for gathering information for the Hong Kong intelligence department, the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) summoned the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, on Tuesday (May 14). They emphasized that carrying out espionage activities and cyber attacks on British territory is unacceptable.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, an FCDO spokesperson stated, “Today, in accordance with the Foreign Secretary’s instructions, the FCDO summoned the Chinese Ambassador.”
The statement further indicated that the FCDO had clearly conveyed to the Chinese side that China’s recent behavior towards the UK, including cyber attacks, reports of espionage activities, and the wanted status of Hong Kong residents in the United Kingdom, are all “unacceptable.”
The UK Foreign Office said that after charging three men in the UK under the National Security Law on Monday, the FCDO summoned the Chinese Ambassador.
These three individuals are accused of assisting the Hong Kong intelligence department and engaging in foreign interference activities in the UK. The three appeared in a London court on Monday.
The charges allege that the trio agreed to “conduct information collection, surveillance, and engage in deceptive behavior” in the UK. They are also accused of forcibly entering a residence for “foreign interference.”
The Chinese Embassy in London accused the UK of fabricating charges against these individuals and stated that the UK has no right to interfere in Hong Kong affairs.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam urged British authorities on Tuesday to provide complete information regarding the arrest of the three men, one of whom is the executive manager of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London.
The concern over Chinese cyber and espionage activities by the United States and European countries is increasing day by day.
According to Reuters, the head of the UK intelligence agency GCHQ stated on Tuesday that communist China poses a genuine and growing cyber risk to the UK, adding that countering the threat from China is GCHQ’s top priority.
On May 7, the British government confirmed that “malicious actors” were suspected of attacking the UK Ministry of Defence’s payroll system. Several media outlets reported at the time that this cyber attack originated from communist China, involving the personal information and bank details of over 200,000 serving personnel in the Navy, Army, and Air Force.
China, however, dismissed the UK’s accusations as “groundless.”