Speakers of both houses said MI5 believes China’s Ministry of State Security is contacting parliament-linked individuals through cover companies and headhunters. Two identified individuals used LinkedIn to “conduct outreach at scale on behalf” of Beijing.

The alert comes after a spying case collapsed in September due to insufficient government evidence. It also follows MI5’s October warning about thousands of suspicious job adverts designed to obtain sensitive information.

MI5 Sets Out Covert Recruitment Tactics

Dan Jarvis told parliament MI5 sees “a covert and calculated attempt” by China to interfere in politics, using cover firms and headhunters. The speakers said Chinese state actors are “relentless” in efforts to reach MPs, advisers and staff, with LinkedIn a key targeting tool.

China rejected the claims as “pure fabrication and malicious slander,” accusing the UK of staging a “charade.” The dispute comes as London prepares to decide on a major new Chinese embassy, which critics describe as a security risk.

Spy Case Collapse And Legal Tensions

Prosecutors dropped a case in September against two Britons accused of spying on MPs for China, saying the government had not shown Beijing constituted a national security threat under the Official Secrets Act. Critics said Prime Minister Keir Starmer was prioritizing diplomacy with China.

MI5 chief Ken McCallum recently described Chinese espionage as a “daily” threat. Jarvis said the headhunter activity fits a broader pattern, including email targeting in 2021 and the 2022 alert over Christine Lee, who later lost a legal challenge.

Counterespionage Plan, Funding And Academia

Jarvis announced a counterespionage plan with about 170 million pounds for stronger encrypted systems for civil servants. Rules on political donations will tighten, election candidates will get new security guidance, and Chinese-made surveillance gear has been removed from sensitive sites.

He said China assigns value to a wide range of information and is also influencing academic work. A closed meeting with university leaders will follow, building on the 2022 alert and MI5’s October warning about thousands of suspect recruitment postings.