UK Parliament Warned of Chinese Security Services Using LinkedIn for Intelligence Gathering
Simon Whelband, a Conservative councillor and staffer to MP Neil O'Brien (sanctioned by China in 2021), encountered an unsolicited LinkedIn message from an account named Shirly Shen offering a job opportunity. Recognizing the suspicious nature of the message, Whelband reported it to Parliament's security services and blocked the account. The message was poorly written, raising concerns that more junior staffers might mistake such solicitations for genuine opportunities and become targeted.
MI5 has identified two LinkedIn profiles, Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen, as being used by Chinese security services as civilian recruitment headhunters aimed at soliciting insider insights from British politics. On Tuesday, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Lords Speaker Lord McFall circulated a warning from MI5 to MPs and peers alerting them to these threats.
Concerns about China's influence and security threats within the UK were also raised during Commons debates. Issues include Chinese-manufactured buses equipped with a kill switch and Chinese military vehicles potentially carrying listening devices, leading to cautions about what MPs say onboard these vehicles. Additionally, there are worries regarding China's plans for a large new embassy in central London near sensitive data cables serving the City.
Last month, Parliament discussed the collapse of a court case involving two men accused of spying for China; one had worked within Westminster and both denied any wrongdoing.
The UK government's approach to China is described as pragmatic and clear-eyed. In contrast, the Labour Party has pursued warmer ties, with figures such as Rachel Reeves and Peter Kyle visiting Beijing, and Sir Olly Robbins also traveling there. Meanwhile, a hawkish faction within Parliament questions this approach, reflecting the ongoing debate over UK-China relations.
