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| Christine Lee runs a law firm, with offices in London and Birmingham.According to the alert, Ms Lee claimed her involvement with Parliament had been to "represent the UK Chinese and increase diversity". (Photo by= BBC News) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] China has denied interfering in UK politics after MI5 warned an agent of the country had infiltrated Parliament. BBC said that the security service said Christine Ching Kui Lee "established links" for the Chinese Communist Party with current and aspiring MPs.
She then gave donations to politicians, including Labour MP Barry Gardiner, who received more than £420,000 from her. The Chinese Embassy in London accused MI5 of "smearing and intimidation" against the UK's Chinese community. In a statement on the embassy's website, a spokesman said: "China always adheres to the principle of non-interference in other country's internal affairs. "We have no need and never seek to 'buy influence' in any foreign parliament. We firmly oppose the trick of smearing and intimidation against the Chinese community in the UK."
According to the alert, Ms Lee claimed her involvement with Parliament had been to "represent the UK Chinese and increase diversity". But MI5 said that activity "had been undertaken in covert coordination with the United Front Work Department [of the CCP], with funding provided by foreign nationals located in China and Hong Kong". MI5 warned Ms Lee "may aspire to establish APPGs [parliamentary groups] to further the CCP's agenda". Conservative MP and former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith brought up the alert in the Commons on Thursday, confirming it had been emailed out to MPs by the Speaker.
