ISC reports on Chinese activity in the UK

Findings come as Christine Lee sues over MI5 allegations

The Intelligence and Security Committee of the UK Parliament has today issued a report on Chinese influence activity in Britain. According to the accompanying press release, the Committee has concluded that the UK sits 'just below China’s top priority targets, as it seeks to build support for its current ‘core interests’ – to mute international criticism and gain economically.' It nevertheless finds that Chinese intelligence ‘targets the UK and its interests prolifically and aggressively, and presents a challenge for our Agencies to cover.’

The report is the result of an inquiry which concluded prior to January 2022, so it makes only passing mention of the MI5 alert issued that month linking lawyer Christine Lee to political interference on behalf of the Chinese Communist party.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that Lee had applied to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal for information from MI5 as part of a civil case over the alert.