'Spy' represents escalation in China's attempts to interfere with UK democracy

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'Spy' represents escalation in China's attempts to interfere with UK democracy
'Spy' represents escalation in China's attempts to interfere with UK democracy

China crisis

OUR security services have repeatedly warned about the threat posed by China.

But the claims of a Chinese spy at the heart of our Government represent a major escalation in Beijing’s attempts to interfere with British democracy.

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MI5’s warnings about China must be heededCredit: EPA

It is only two weeks since Foreign ­Secretary James Cleverly was on a bridge-building visit to Beijing.

Yet, while Britain tries to thaw icy relations, the Chinese have continued to hack into our IT, steal commercial secrets and use “honey trap” spies to influence political and business figureheads.

Until recently they operated secret police stations across Britain to spy on the Chinese diaspora.

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Meanwhile their online apps harvest vast amounts of personal data from the Britons who use them.

Back in March, Foreign Affairs Committee chair Alicia Kearns warned that China was “foremost seeking to undermine our security and our sovereignty”.

Now we learn that was just before her right hand man and another man were arrested on espionage allegations.

Rishi Sunak, who insists we still need to work with China, says he raised ­“significant concerns” with Premier Li Qiang during the G20 summit.

But does anyone think Beijing will take a blind bit of notice?

MI5’s warnings about China must be heeded.

Give it back

WITH public expenditure rocketing, the Government and councils need to cut costs and end the profligate spending that brought Labour-run Birmingham to its knees.

But kids with special educational needs should not suffer to pay for the failures of local and national politicians.

They already face enormous challenges to get the education they deserve, as The Sun’s Give It Back campaign has highlighted.

Sneaky government plans to slash SEND projects by a fifth will make that constant battle even harder.

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In the search for short-term savings, the Government and town halls risk the need for far more expensive interventions later.

Not to mention the terrible toll on special needs children and their families in the meantime.

The Department for Education should rethink its plans — and not sacrifice the desperately needed education of some of our most vulnerable kids.

Suella is right

IT is impossible to watch the video of the latest “XL bully” attack without agreeing with Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s call for the dogs to be banned.

There will be some who argue that the breed can be a suitable pet.

The litany of fatal attacks, particularly the mauling of children, proves otherwise.

There is no place for such vicious creatures on our streets.

The Sun

China, Beijing, The Sun Newspaper, Sun Says, Spying and espionage, Opinion, Conservative Party, Rishi Sunak, James Cleverly

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