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Fars News Agency: 78 were martyred and 329 were wounded in Israeli aggression on residential neighborhoods in Tehran
Security source tells FARS: Iran's revenge will happen soon
Iran's FARS News Agency, citing security source, denies Israeli reports that Tehran has launched drones toward 'Israel'
The office of Ayatollah Sayyed Ali al-Sistani strongly condemned today’s Israeli aggression on Iran, denouncing it as a blatant criminal act that once again exposes the grave and ongoing threat the Zionist entity poses to regional peace and stability.
Loud explosions heard in the vicinity of Hamadan Province in Iran
The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps in Iran announces the martyrdom of the commander of the IRGC's aerospace force, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh
The Deputy for Operations Affairs of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Brigadier General Mehdi Rabbani, was martyred along with his wife and children
Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force's Air Defense General Davood Sheikhian was martyred
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Ms. Bagheri worked as a journalist for the Defense Press Agency
Fereshteh Bagheri, daughter of Major General Mohammad Bagheri, was martyred alongside her father in the Israeli aggression this morning: Al Mayadeen's correspondent

UK accuses China of attempting to 'headhunt' key British figures

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Sep 2023 23:20
3 Min Read

The British government says that Beijing is working to recruit politicians and senior officials in the military industry.

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  • UK accuses China of attempting to 'headhunt' key British figures
    British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak giving a speech during the G20 summit held in Bali, Indonesia, in November 2022 (AFP)

The British UK government issued a warning on Thursday regarding alleged efforts by Chinese intelligence services to recruit high-ranking British politicians in a bid to enhance their influence in London.

Tensions between China and Western nations have escalated in recent years. In July 2022, the heads of MI5 and the FBI issued a joint statement characterizing Beijing as "the most significant long-term threat."

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in November 2022 also claimed that China is a systemic threat to UK values and the "most state-based threat to our economic security."

Britain's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) published a report in July on China, in which it labeled Beijing as the "greatest risk to the UK," but it added that the country lacked the "resources, expertise or knowledge" to tackle this "threat."

London recognizes that "Chinese recruitment schemes have tried to headhunt British and allied nationals in key positions and with sensitive knowledge and experience, including from government, military, industry, and wider society," the UK government stated in response to the report.

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"China oversteps the boundary and crosses the line from exerting influence - a legitimate course of action - into interference, in the pursuit of its interests and values at the expense of those of the UK," it continued.

The statement comes shortly after the Sunday Times reported that a researcher employed by the UK House of Commons and another individual were arrested in March under suspicion of espionage for China. The Metropolitan Police Service confirmed the arrests of a man in his 30s in Oxfordshire and a man in his 20s in Edinburgh under the Official Secrets Act.

Denouncing the allegations, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning asserted on Monday in a press briefing that "the so-called claim that China is conducting espionage activities against the UK is pure fabrication," emphasizing that "China resolutely opposes this". 

Mao Ning used the press conference as an opportunity to urge the United Kingdom to stop "spreading disinformation" and "anti-China political manipulation" which she described as "malicious slander". 

Beijing has consistently denied allegations of espionage, accusing the West of conducting a global smear campaign and urging them to discard their "Cold War mentality."

Read more: China detains national suspected of spying for CIA

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