Nov 19, 2025
3 min read
Ah, the irony!When Cabinet minister Dan Jarvis appeared in Parliament to speak out about Chinese spying just three miles up the River Thames, Operation Couto was still in full swing, while China demanded Labor support for a super-embassy that would sit on some of the country's most vulnerable computer cables, warning of "consequences" if it did not.will happen.
Jarvis was talking about a recent Chinese espionage scandal that revolved around hiring two "headhunters" — actually members of the Chinese state's defense ministry — to search the Internet to make connections and flatter potential recruits.
They've been doing this in the business world for years, but now they're directly looking for people who work in parliament.
The attitude of our politicians towards China makes us dangerous and vulnerable.
I'm in the Washington Dike.Officials say he is taking "necessary measures" to protect Britain.However, that is not what he does.
Let me give you an example.Britain's Foreign Influence Registration System, known as FIRS, came into effect last July.It is part of the National Security Act of 2023.I was one of the MPs who wanted the officials to discuss this issue.I helped as much as I could.
If you work for or campaign for a foreign power, you must first report it now.Otherwise, you face an unlimited fine and two years in prison.So far so good.
But there is a basic and advanced level of registration and Labor is refusing to put China on an advanced level for fear of offending President Xi Jinping's government.
The independent press and any version of history not supported by the CCP, such as that of Chinese President Xi Jinping, have long condemned free speech and human rights.
Currently, only Russia and Iran are the best and the activities of both countries are closely monitored.However, as we have seen in this effort to return to the worst work, China is a serious threat when it comes to large, "impact" activities.It makes a complete mockery of the registration system.
China sometimes uses proxies – as seen here – but mostly conducts influence operations through the United Front: an arm of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that tries to act like the Soviet Union, NGOs, friendship and business groups.
These groups form a network of useful idiots willing to go to China, from parliamentarians to bureaucrats, from soldiers to academics and businessmen.But they also identify patriotic British citizens who hate the Chinese Communist dictators and whose reputations should be smoked or monitored, as I and others were in the last Parliament.
But why is Whitehall's approach to China still an inconclusive mess?Clear on threats to security services.The head of MI5, Sir Ken McCallum, has warned of major Chinese espionage plans, while daily hostile state activity - much of it originating in China - targets Britain.
However, the dangerous method has taken advantage of the economy, which may soon be robbed - which may soon be fired - and Sir Keir Stmer, who may follow him, will have to swallow a little pride and take advantage of the money for investment.
We traded our national security for financial losses from China's communist rulers.This administration has insulted us - even though China's economic Eldorado is just a mirage.
First, China is actively reducing imports.It does not want open and free trade.It wants to use its economic export power to make other countries dependent on it.
Miz Chief Sir Ken McCallum has warned of a major Chinese espionage scheme, while daily lashing out at China's activities - targeting the UK.
Second, Chinese investment in Britain is only 0.2 percent of foreign investment here, and there is a lot of emphasis on high technology. Somewhere, of course, we should not celebrate the CCP, because their spies will simply steal that technology and use it to gather more information.
Third, before Govid, Chinese investment has created supported 3,000 jobs per year, our exports are 3.3% of our total.Small beer for such a big country.
The simple truth is that China - like Russia - believes it is at odds with the Western world.
The CCP has publicly stated that it does not want to coexist with the West, but wants to dominate it.Western countries are 'hostile foreign powers', democracy is a 'false ideology'.Freedom of expression and human rights have long been condemned by the independent press and any version of history not supported by the CCP, such as Xi Jinping.
No one is saying we shouldn't trade or communicate with China, but we need to do more to protect ourselves.
We need to protect our assets and reduce our dependence on that country.
But we are under suffering.The end of China's eve is now upon us - and there is no way to hide this simple and shameful truth.
We must be united - we must be strong.We must put Britain first.
-Former Conservative MP Bob Seiley sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee and is an expert on hybrid warfare.
