London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The Prime Minister stressed the importance of the UK’s relations with China on global issues like climate change, despite the Prince Andrew spy controversy.
Amid rising concerns over a Chinese spy’s connection to Prince Andrew, Sir Starmer stood by his stance on engaging with Beijing, highlighting the need for dialogue and partnership on global challenges.
When asked about the spy scandal for the first time, Keir Starmer declined to comment on Prince Andrew or the royals but expressed satisfaction with the progress in UK-China ties.
In a move to reset ties with Beijing, Keir Starmer met with President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit, the first such meeting in six years between both leaders, while Chancellor Rachel Reeves is ready to visit Beijing soon in the coming year.
During a press talk in Bergen, Sir Starmer along with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr said, “Of course, we are concerned about the challenge that China poses.”
Sir Starmer continued, “I had a meeting with the [Chinese] president just a few weeks ago. Our approach is one of engagement, of cooperating where we need to cooperate, particularly on issues like climate change, to challenge where we must and where we should, particularly on issues like human rights, and to compete when it comes to trade.”
Sir Keir said he was concerned about the challenges posed by China, following the disclosure of a suspected Chinese spy’s ties with Prince Andrew.
Prince Andrew and the Chinese businessman’s connection was revealed last week, who was also invited to celebrate the prince’s birthday party. The alleged spy only identifies as H6.
The alleged spy developed a close relationship with Prince Andrew and has been seen with prominent politicians such as David Cameron and Theresa May.
Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader and China critic, criticised Starmer’s strategy for his handling of China ties.
A recent judgment disclosed the exclusion of the businessman from the UK in 2023, revealing he had gained an “unusual degree” of trust from a senior member of the royal family, who entered into business ventures with him.
Ministers are urged to set a timeline for reviving the delayed Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) and reassess China’s threat category.
In response to questions about the scheme’s progress, Starmer replied, “We’ve been working on it from day one, and an update will be provided soon.”
Tory MPs who are critics of China have warned that the Prince Andrew case likely represents a small piece of Beijing’s broader efforts to build ties with influential UK figures through its United Front Work Department (UFWD).
Jim McMahon, a government minister, urged MPs to be careful about using legislative privilege to reveal H6’s identity.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said his party would use parliamentary immunity to disclose the name of H6 if the courts do not remove the anonymity order.
The Home Office, under Suella Braverman in 2023, excluded H6 from the UK, accusing him of involvement in covert activities related to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
As reported by The Guardian, H6 is a 50-year-old Chinese national who held roles at key UK-China business groups. He was stopped at the British border in November 2021 for suspected “hostile activity.”
The alleged spy surrendered all electronic devices, even his mobile phone, which led to his exclusion from the UK the previous year.
Officials discovered a 2020 letter from Dominic Hampshire, a senior adviser to Prince Andrew, while investigating H6’s mobile phone seized in 2021, revealed details of his ties with the Duke of York.
Britain security concerns are increasingly alarmed by China’s cyber activities, with GCHQ director Anne Keast-Butler warning in May that Beijing poses a “genuine and increasing cyber risk to the UK.”