MI5 Identifies LinkedIn Profiles Used by Chinese Security Services to Recruit British Political Insiders
MI5 has identified two LinkedIn profiles, belonging to Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen, as being used by Chinese security services to recruit insiders within British politics.
Simon Whelband, a Conservative councillor and staffer to MP Neil O'Brien, reported receiving a LinkedIn message from Shirly Shen offering a job opportunity. He blocked the account after receiving an alert from Parliament's security services. The message was poorly written and appeared to be a job offer, suggesting that staffers might be targeted by Beijing as an indirect pathway to reaching Members of Parliament (MPs).
Westminster is increasingly perceived as a target for Chinese influence operations focusing on political staff rather than directly on MPs. In response, Parliamentary leadership, including Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Lords Speaker Lord McFall, circulated the MI5 warning to MPs and peers.
This development comes amid broader concerns raised during a Commons debate regarding security threats from China. These concerns include alleged kill switches on Chinese-made buses, mobile listening devices found in military vehicles, and a controversial Chinese embassy project near critical data cables in central London.
Last month, Parliament was engaged in addressing the collapse of a court case involving two men accused of spying for China; one had worked in Westminster. Both men denied any wrongdoing.
The UK government describes its China policy as pragmatic and risk-aware, aiming to engage with Beijing while maintaining vigilance. However, there is ongoing debate about whether this stance should shift.
The BBC sought responses from Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen; however, it remains unclear if the LinkedIn accounts correspond to the actual individuals pictured.
