5 d. ago Britain would do well to remember where its power over China lies | Simon Jenkins

It’s ridiculous for the government to splurge on defence while it slashes spending on its most valuable asset: cultureThe US has backed down in its tariff war with China. Thanks to Donald Trump’s egotistical diplomacy, rare earths can again flow one way, soya beans the other, and less of the chemicals used to make fentanyl in between. No matter that the war was Trump’s own idea and seems to have been a stunt. The stunt is over. Trump has played his favourite game of dealmaker, much to the discomfort of millions.Meanwhile Britain still cannot make up its mind if China is its enemy. In 2008 British officials visited the Beijing Olympics authorities to discuss the next games in London in 2012. The government told them to “raise” human rights issues, about which the British government was most concerned. I am told the Chinese reacted with sympathy at the Britons’ embarrassment at broaching the matter, and then everyone got down to business. Soon China was a friend, certainly to David Ca...

Politics

2 w. ago MI5 thwarted Chinese plot to attack Britain's national security last week as spy chief says UK 'needs to up its game' against outside threats

Sir Ken McCallum vowed that he would 'never back off from confronting threats to the UK' after a critical espionage case collapsed when Government refused to describe Beijing as Britain's enemy.

Events

2 w. ago UK government’s spy case testimony spoke of desire for ‘positive’ ties with China

Sir Keir Starmer’s administration has been under pressure over charges being dropped against two British men

Politics

3 w. ago MICHAEL GOVE: Amid Labour's bluster over the China spy row, laughter is echoing around Beijing that Britain has crumbled like a fortune cookie under the tracks of a Tiananmen tank

Presumably, if a foreign state with provably malign intent were alleged to have co-opted individuals in the heart of Parliament to break the law, you would imagine the Prime Minister would be all over it.

Events

3 w. ago Awkward! Starmer drops smile as Trump turns back on him at Middle East peace summit

The prime minister faced an awkward moment as Donald Trump appeared to invite him up to speak in front of reporters during the Middle East peace summit

Politics

3 w. ago Britain is 'at risk of falling into a Chinese debt trap' amid spy saga

Chinese investment in the UK economy is substantial and leading economists have voiced fears that could lead to a dependence on the Asian superpower and its ruling Communist Party (CCP).

Events

3 w. ago Keir Starmer's security adviser Jonathan Powell is 'too close to China', Labour cabinet ministers warn

Jonathan Powell is facing scrutiny across the political divide after he reportedly refused to call Beijing an 'enemy' of the UK in evidence for the case.

Events

3 w. ago Kemi Badenoch accuses Keir Starmer of deliberately collapsing 'China spy' trial so Labour can 'suck up' to Beijing

The Tory leader lashed out amid claims that the Prime Minister's light touch with the Communist regime had handed it a free pass to commit espionage in the UK.

Politics

3 w. ago Offensive protests chants could be targeted as Keir Starmer drops hint

Earlier this week Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood outlined plans to give police forces new powers to stop protestors repeatedly holding demonstrations in the same site

Events

3 w. ago Labour minister REFUSES to label China 'an enemy' as Keir Starmer is accused of giving Beijing a 'free pass' to spy in Britain in wake of trial collapse

Emma Hardy admitted dealing with the communist regime was 'a challenge', the day after the director of public prosecutions launched an astonishing attack on the government.

Politics

3 w. ago China given a free pass to spy on Britain: DPP confirm spy case was dropped because Starmer's advisers refused to call Beijing an 'enemy'

This country's most senior prosecutor sensationally blamed Labour's national security advisers yesterday for the failure of a case against two men accused of spying for Beijing.

Politics

4 w. ago Carte blanche for China to spy on Britain: Espionage case collapsed after Government advisers refused to brand Beijing a national security threat, CPS chief reveals

Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson revealed that the China spy case collapsed after the Government's national security adviser refused to provide crucial evidence.

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