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MI5 chief called “Chinese state actor” He acknowledged that Britain faces national security threats “every day” he was disappointed The end of the case against two alleged Westminster spies.
Sir ken mccallum to depart How did the security service work? an operation against the threat from China Within the last week amid growing questions over the failure to prosecute.
In a speech at MI5’s London headquarters, the service’s director general said the UK needed to “defend itself strongly” against China, while also being able to “take advantage of the opportunities” from engaging with Beijing.
“The UK-China relationship is complex by its nature, but MI5’s role is not that: we detect and robustly deal with activity that threatens national security,” Sir Ken said.
He highlighted China’s efforts to “cyber espionage”, “clandestine technology transfers”, “covert interference in UK public life”, and “harassment and intimidation of opponents”, including pro-democracy activists.
He said, “When it comes to China, Britain needs to defend itself strongly against threats and seize the opportunities that clearly serve our country.”
It was a choice for ministers to decide where the balance lay, “informed by expert security advice”, he said.
Asked if he was disappointed by the collapse of the Cash and Berry case, he said: “Certainly I am disappointed when opportunities to prosecute activity that threatens national security are not pursued, for whatever reason.”
Sir Ken’s comments came after it emerged that the government’s deputy national security adviser had repeatedly described the “threat” posed by China In witness statements published on Wednesday night extraordinary dispute at the end of the case,
A key charge against the government was that it had refused to describe Beijing as a threat to Britain’s national security in its evidence to the CPS.
But statements published on Wednesday revealed that Matt Collins spoke in Chinese intelligence services were “conducting a highly capable and large-scale espionage campaign” against the UK, which “threaten the UK’s economic prosperity and resilience and the integrity of our democratic institutions”.
But he said the government was “committed to pursuing positive relations” with Beijing.
He also told prosecutors that he assessed that Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, two men accused of spying for China, acted in a way that threatened Britain’s “security” and “interests”, by handing over material that would be “useful” to the Chinese state. They deny any wrongdoing.
On Thursday the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy announced it would launch a formal inquiry into the failings, as committee chair Matt Western told the Commons that “there are clearly still many questions to be answered” over the saga.
“As a committee that examines national security decision-making processes, the JCNSS is the best forum for those questions,” he said.
He said: “We will launch a formal investigation as soon as possible and look forward to hearing evidence from the government and officials involved in these issues.”
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer responded to a letter from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, saying he “will not stand for anyone being wrongfully convicted” of the collapse of the China spying trial.
He said the deputy national security adviser “made every possible effort” within “the constraints imposed by the previous government’s position on China”.
He outlined questions on the matter in response to a letter sent to him by the opposition Prime Minister Said: “I can confirm that no minister or special adviser in this government put any pressure on any witness clamshell He did not intend to prosecute, nor did he try to influence the outcome of the trial in any other way.
“I should also say that I would not support anyone being unfairly blamed for this result.
“I am confident that the Deputy National Security Adviser, Matt Collins – a public servant of the highest caliber and integrity who has had a significant impact on our national security – did everything possible within the constraints imposed by the previous government’s position on China.
“Furthermore, the witness statements we have now published show that the evidence they provided was consistent with the publicly stated policy of the then Government at the time.”
The release of the documents on Wednesday increases pressure on the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to explain why it unexpectedly dropped charges against both men.
The evidence showed how Mr Berry was recruited by the Chinese state and used Mr Cash to gather intelligence on the UK.
At one point, Mr Cash told Mr Berry that “you are now in spy territory”.
But Mr Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, said the collapse of the trial had put him in an “impossible position”.
When the evidence was published he said, “I want to reiterate that I am completely innocent. Not just because the case against me was dropped, but because I never knowingly helped the Chinese intelligence agency.”
He said, “I have not got the opportunity of a public hearing to show my innocence and I should not take part in the media hearing.”