Labour refuses to call China a ‘threat’ despite years of concern about espionage, hacks and human rights

Labour has refused to brand China a ‘threat’ after years of worries regarding human right violations, spying and hacking.

Those against Beijing have long awaited for Number 10 to officially voice its concerns regarding human rights and security in relation to to the East Asian state. 

During her short tenure, Liz Truss had a desire to announce the nation – led by Xi Jinping – was  a ‘threat’, while her successor Rishi Sunak held a less firm stance. 

However following numerous security breaches – believed to have been caused by Beijing – the ex-Prime Minister vowed to categorize as dangerous as Russia and Iran.

The data of 40 million voters has likely been exposed by Chinese-linked hackers after basic IT security failings allowed them to break into Electoral Commission servers in August 2021, a watchdog found.

During her short tenure, Liz Truss had a desire to announce the nation – led by Xi Jinping (pictured) – was a ‘threat’, while her successor Rishi Sunak held a less firm stance

The attackers were also able to access reference copies of the registers held for research purposes and for permissibility checks on political donations.

The registers included the name and address of anyone in the UK who was registered to vote between 2014 and 2022, as well as registered overseas voters.

Beijing was also accused of infiltrating payroll information such as bank details, addresses, and names from the Ministry of Defence. 

When asked by Lord Kempsell, a Tory peer, if China was a threat or a challenge to Britain, the government said they would ‘cooperate where’ they could with Beijing. 

Foreign Office minister, Baroness Chapman said: ‘This Government will bring a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing the UK’s relations with China, driven by the national interest.

‘We will cooperate where we can, including on global net zero, health and trade, compete where we have different interests, and challenge where we must, to protect our national security and values.

‘We will improve the UK’s capability to understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities China poses through an audit of the UK’s relationship with China as a bilateral and global actor.’ 

This comes shortly after ex-parliamentary aide Chris Cash was charged with passing secrets to China.

Ex-Conservative leader, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, described Labour’s latest statements as ‘a major U-turn’.

An inquiry by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) unearthed that the Electoral Commission had failed to keep its servers up to date, meaning hackers could take advantage of tech vulnerabilities (Pictured: an aerial view of the GCHQ)

The data of 40 million voters has likely been exposed by Chinese-linked hackers after basic IT security failings allowed them to break into servers according to a watchdog investigation (Stock image)

Parliamentary aide Chris Cash (pictured) was charged with passing secrets to China

‘They supported our votes on genocide and Jimmy Lai’s illegal detention. How the mighty have fallen,’ he told the Telegraph.

‘One whiff of power and the mandarins of the pro-China Foreign Office get their hands on the new Government. Project Kow-Tow continues, but it is now wearing a red rose.’

This comes shortly after the previous Tory government said they would list China on the ‘enhanced tier’ category of Britain’s Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

The scheme was designed to create a clearer picture about which individuals or entities may be a risk to Britain’s interests.

There are two tiers, including a ‘political influence tier’ and ‘enhanced tier’.

The former requires individuals or entities who ‘carry out political influence activities in the UK at the direction of a foreign power’ to identify themselves.

The latter gives ministers the power to force people or entities to identify themselves for a broader range of activities, such as working in Britain at the direction of a foreign power.

If they fail to identify themselves they could face up to five years in jail.

The previous Tory government said they would list China on the ‘enhanced tier’ category of Britain’s Foreign Influence Registration Scheme as part of their general election manifesto (Pictured: Rishi Sunak)

Placing Beijing on the enhanced list could have resulted in anyone working in Britain ‘at the direction’ of Beijing having to identify themselves. 

It would have also meant China would have been in the same category of security threat as Russia and Iran.

A Government spokesperson told the Telegraph: ‘We have been clear that when it comes to China we will cooperate where we can, compete where needed and challenge where we must.’

‘The Foreign Influence Registration Scheme will further strengthen our national security whilst maintaining the UK as an international hub for business.

‘Announcements on the Enhanced Tier will be made with due consideration.’