A partner of a Labour MP is among three men who have been arrested in London and Wales on suspicion of spying for China, it has been alleged.
Three men were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed.
The country to which the investigation is related to is China.
One of the men is a partner of a sitting Labour MP and another is understood to be the partner of a former Labour MP, the Guardian reports.
Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “Today’s arrests are part of a proactive investigation and while these are serious matters, we do not believe there to be any imminent or direct threat to the public relating to this.
“Our investigation continues, and we thank the public for their ongoing support.”
A 39-year-old man at a London address, a 68-year-old man at an address in Powys and a 43-year-old man in Pontyclun, both in Wales, have been taken into custody.
As part of the investigation, searches were also carried out at three other addresses in London, East Kilbride and Cardiff.
Two of the men arrested have been associated with Labour MPs, it has been alleged
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Security Minister, Dan Jarvis, said in the House of Commons: “I can confirm that this relates to China. I can also confirm this relates to foreign interference targeting UK democracy.
“For reasons that you will understand, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any aspect of what is now a live investigation.
“It is absolutely critical that we do not hamper the work of the police or prejudice any future legal processes by what we say in this House today.
“I would, however, point the House to what the counter terrorism police have just said in their own statement, namely, that this morning officers from counter terrorism policing arrested three men as part of an investigation into suspected National Security Act 2023 offences.
Dan Jarvis, security minister, addressed the House of Commons today on the arrests
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The security minister said however, that it “continues to be in our long-term strategic interest to engage with China”.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister, Alex Burghart said in response to the news: “Here we are again, another year, another Chinese spy scandal, and the backdrop to it is this Government’s failed policy of appeasement.
“The Government must now surely be coming to the realisation that unless the United Kingdom stands up to these threats, our country will continue to be treated with disdain.”
Alex Barros-Curtis, Labour MP for Cardiff West, has requested a meeting with Mr Jarvis following the arrest of the three men.
He told the Commons he understood one of the arrests happened in his constituency (the 43-year-old man in Pontyclun).
Mr Jarvis responded saying he would be “happy to meet with him at the earliest available opportunity”.
The Liberal Democrats have questioned whether the Government will reassess its decision to allow a Chinese mega-embassy to be built in London, in light of the arrests.
Lisa Smart, the Lib Dems’ spokeswoman said in the Commons: “How many times must we all come to this House to hear a report of further rounds of arrests under counter terrorism legislation for this Government to take this action?
“Does the Government plan to review its decision to allow the building of the Chinese mega-embassy, and will the Government go further to stop foreign money being funnelled into our democracy?”
Mr Jarvis responded, saying he “understands” why the embassy is being brought up in light of the news, but said there is “a strong national security case for the embassy.”
Sir Edward Leigh, the Father of the House, said the plans to build the embassy should be halted until China “learn to behave” and called the summoning of the Chinese ambassador.
This event comes after the collapse of another Chinese spying case in October last year, where charges were dropped against Christopher Cast and Christopher Berry, who were arrested on suspicion of passing on intelligence to a Chinese Communist Party official.
