Parliament Warned of Chinese Security Service Recruitment Attempts and Other Security Concerns
Simon Whelband, a Conservative councillor and aide to MP Neil O'Brien, reported receiving a LinkedIn message from an account named Shirly Shen, which he identified as a potential recruit attempt by Chinese security services. He subsequently blocked the account and alerted Parliament’s security services. MI5 has since identified two LinkedIn profiles, Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen, that have been used by Chinese security services as civilian recruitment headhunters targeting British politics.
This warning was circulated to MPs and peers by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and House of Lords Speaker Lord McFall on Tuesday. The alert comes as Parliament continues to deal with the aftermath of a collapsed court case involving two men accused of spying for China, one of whom had previously worked in Westminster.
Security minister Dan Jarvis addressed MPs in the Commons, acknowledging a wide range of cross-party concerns regarding China. Additional security issues include the possibility that a Chinese-made bus might contain a kill switch, and concerns about Chinese-made military vehicles potentially functioning as listening devices, prompting caution among military officials.
Furthermore, there is apprehension about China seeking planning permission for a large embassy near sensitive data cables serving the City of London. Critics view this location as a potential spying hub, adding to the overall security concerns regarding Chinese activities in the UK.
