cross-posted from: mander.xyz/post/46239401

China has established a network of at least 75 covert influence outposts across the UK, embedded in universities, businesses and diaspora groups, according to analysis before the prime minister’s visit to Beijing.

The findings, from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), trace the organisations to the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front system, an overseas political apparatus used to “cultivate elites, shape debate and suppress criticism of Beijing”.

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Rather than operating through formal premises, the organisations function through ostensibly independent associations, allowing the Chinese state to exert influence inside Britain.

Security services have previously warned of United Front efforts in western countries.

Ken McCallum, the MI5 director general, previously warned of “clandestine, coercive or corruptive … interference activity”, and highlighted the case of Christine Lee, a lawyer whom MI5 issued a warning to MPs about in January 2022, accusing her of being engaged in “political interference activities” on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.

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More than 80 per cent of the outposts identified by IPAC are described as “talent liaison” or “talent acquisition” stations, many linked to state-backed recruitment programmes targeting scientists and researchers with access to sensitive technology, intellectual property or strategic expertise.

Others provide legal services or consular-style support, which campaigners warned could breach UK law or international conventions.

The network spans London, Manchester and other major cities, as well as UK universities and student networks. It is understood the analysis was previously shared with the government.

Tom Tugendhat, the former security minister, told The Times the government had failed to act on known risks.

He said: “The government must wake up to the reality of this threat. When I was security minister, we fought hard to get the necessary legislation in place to protect our country. It is unacceptable that the government has still not placed China on the ‘enhanced tier’ of the foreign influence registration scheme. We need to give our intelligence service the tools they can use to address these threats to UK national security.”

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In several cases, the same individuals were found to hold senior positions in UK-based associations and in Chinese state-linked bodies.

It also warned that while many of the organisations presented themselves as cultural, community or professional bodies, the effect was to create a network of influence capable of shaping debate, marginalising critics and cultivating access to political and civic institutions.

Some of the organisations are linked to overseas “persuade to return” operations used to pressure dissidents, including through surveillance, harassment and intimidation of family members, although there have been no confirmed cases of this happening in Britain.

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Some of the organisations are linked to overseas “persuade to return” operations used to pressure dissidents, including through surveillance, harassment and intimidation of family members, although there have been no confirmed cases of this happening in Britain.

Chung Ching Kwong, a senior analyst at IPAC, said: “These stations have been in the UK for decades and constitute the CCP’s ‘whole of society’ approach to infiltration. It has bent UK institutions and individuals to the will of CCP.”

She added: “While the prime minister prepares to depart for Beijing, this is the domestic reality, which only stands to intensify if the mega embassy gets built.”

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Sir Keir Starmer will head to Beijing this week after the approval of a Chinese mega-embassy in London. Critics have said the huge site near crucial data cables will provide a base for Chinese spying and oppression of dissidents in the UK.

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