Britain should place China & US in toughest tier of its new foreign influence scheme, report finds
BRITAIN should place both China and the US in the toughest tier of its new foreign influence scheme, according to a new report.
The UK must also engage with Beijing economically “even if this prompts retaliation” from the White House, the Chatham House think tank said.
Sir Keir Starmer’s Government has been accused of cosying up to China despite concerns about its hostility to Britain.
Beijing has been spared from the most stringent requirements of the UK’s new Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (Firs), which would see anyone working for the state to declare influence activities in Britain.
Under existing rules, China is in the lower tier of the scheme which requires the declaration of “political” activity alone.
Iran and Russia have been placed in the higher “enhanced” tier covering a wider range of activities.
Yet the decision to not put the strongest restraints on Chinese influence will be slammed by hawks including senior Tories.
Former security minister Tom Tugendhat said last year: “The advice from MI5 was very very clear. If China isn’t in the enhanced tier it’s not worth having.”
The foreign influence register was first proposed by the Tories.
But it was only adopted by Labour following the scandal over a suspected Chinese spy’s links to Prince Andrew.
At the time Mr Jarvis insisted: “the Government would not hesitate to use ‘every tool at our disposal’ to keep Britain safe – and blamed the Tories for leaving the register plans in disarray.
He said: “Where there are individuals who pose a threat to our national security, we are committed to using the full range of powers available to disrupt them.”
