Rishi Sunak reads a riot statement to the Chinese Prime Minister at the G20 summit as the Prime Minister expresses his “serious concerns” about allegations of spying by Beijing in Parliament

Rishi Sunak has expressed his “strong concern” to his Chinese counterpart about Beijing’s interference in British democracy amid espionage allegations in Parliament.

The Prime Minister confronted Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the G20 summit in India.

It came after two men were arrested under the Official Secrets Act on charges that a parliamentary researcher was spying for China.

The researcher reportedly had links to several senior Tory MPs, including Security Minister Tom Stimmehat and Alicia Kearns, chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee.

The Briton was arrested along with another man by officials on March 13 on suspicion of spying for Beijing, the authorities said Sunday Times.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, which monitors espionage offences, are investigating.

After his showdown with Prime Minister Li, the prime minister said he raised “a number of different concerns” with the Chinese leader during their meeting in New Delhi.

Mr Sunak said he highlighted his “very serious concerns about interference in our parliamentary democracy, which is clearly unacceptable”.

Rishi Sunak has told his Chinese counterpart his “significant concerns” about Beijing’s interference in British democracy amid espionage allegations in Parliament.

The Prime Minister met Chinese Premier Li Qiang (left, pictured with Indonesian President Joko Widodo) for an informal discussion at the G20 summit in India

Two men have been arrested under the Official Secrets Act over allegations that a parliamentary researcher was spying for China

Speaking to broadcasters, the Prime Minister said: “Of course I cannot comment on the details of an ongoing investigation.”

“But in terms of my meeting with Prime Minister Li, I said very specifically that I raised a number of different concerns that we have in areas where we disagree.”

“And in particular my grave concerns about interference in our parliamentary democracy, which is clearly unacceptable.”

“We discussed a number of things and I raised areas of disagreement.”

“And that is just part of our strategy to protect ourselves, to protect our values ​​and interests, to align our approach to China with that of our allies like America, Australia, Canada, Japan and others, but also to ourselves there get involved where it makes sense.” .

“And actually I think the right thing to do is to take the opportunity to get involved and specifically address concerns rather than just shouting from the sidelines.”

A No 10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister met Prime Minister Li Qiang and expressed grave concern about Chinese interference in the UK’s parliamentary democracy.”

Mr Sunak was under pressure from Tory MPs to take a tougher stance on China after he failed to formally declare Beijing a “threat” during a review of Britain’s foreign and security policy.

Instead, the prime minister described China as an “epochal challenge” for the West and stressed that Britain must continue to “work together” with the Asian power.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly was recently criticized for holding talks with Chinese officials in Beijing – but Mr Sunak today defended his Cabinet minister’s summer trip.

“I think our approach is completely consistent with that of our allies,” the prime minister added.

“If you look at how countries like America, Japan and Canada all interact with China, this is the case because when you interact with people you can raise concerns directly.”

“I think this is more effective.”

“Where there are disagreements or concerns that we have, I would rather be in the room and talk to the Chinese about it directly, face to face.”

“I think that’s the right approach.” “There’s no point complaining on the sidelines, I’d rather be there and voice my concerns directly, and that’s what I did today.”

After his showdown with Prime Minister Li at the G20 summit, the prime minister said he raised a “number of different concerns” with the Chinese leader during their meeting in New Delhi

The researcher reportedly had links to several senior Tory MPs, including Security Minister Tom Stimmehat and Alicia Kearns, chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, an outspoken critic of China hit with sanctions by Beijing, said there were “big questions about parliamentary security”.

One of the arrested men, in his 30s, was arrested in Oxfordshire on March 13, while the other, in his 20s, was arrested in Edinburgh, Scotland Yard said.

Both were held on suspicion of offenses under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911, which punishes offenses alleged to be “prejudicial to the security or interests of the State”.

“Searches were also carried out at both the residential properties and a third address in east London,” the Met Police said in a statement.

Both men were held at a police station in south London until they were released on bail in early October.

Mr Tugendhat is said to have had no contact with the researcher since his appointment as security minister in September last year.

Ms Kearns declined to comment, adding: “While I recognize the public interest, we all have a duty to ensure that the work of authorities is not jeopardized.”

According to the Sunday Times, the researcher held a parliamentary pass and worked with MPs on international politics for several years, including relations with Beijing.

Mr Sunak has been pressured by Tory MPs to take a tougher stance on China after he failed to officially declare Beijing a “threat”.

Instead, the prime minister described China as an “epochal challenge” for the West.

Earlier this year, Parliament’s intelligence watchdog warned that Chinese spies were attacking Britain “frequently and aggressively” and Beijing was managing to penetrate “every sector of the economy.”

The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) warned that the UK has “significant interest in espionage and interference for China”, making the country “just below China’s priority targets”.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk warned this morning that China must be taken “extremely seriously” but insisted the UK must “work together” with Beijing.

Risking a slip-up on Mr Sunak’s preferred choice of language when referring to China, Mr Chalk told Sky News: “The Prime Minister has been very clear on China that it is an epochal threat…challenge, forgive me “You me.”

“Obviously we have to take the matter extremely seriously and I know that the police and no doubt other authorities will take the matter seriously and we will learn the lessons that we need to learn from it.”

He added: “You can’t wish China away, China is the second largest economy in the world.”

“If we want to meet the challenge of climate change, we cannot do it without China.”

“They are responsible for about 27 to 28 percent of emissions, we are responsible for about one percent.”

“So we have to get involved, but we do it with our eyes open.”

“That is why we are taking action to ensure that Huawei is no longer on our 5G network, while recognizing that there is meaningful engagement and that is the position we find ourselves in.”

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, an outspoken critic of China hit with sanctions by Beijing, said there were “big questions about parliamentary security”.

He also warned that Britain had become “heavily penetrated by the Chinese because of our ambivalent attitude towards them” and called for the government to “change position” towards Beijing.

Sir Iain told Times Radio: “It is a significant breach of security.” From a parliamentary perspective, it is a significant breach of security.

“So there are big questions about parliamentary security and the vetting of people working for various groups made up of parliamentarians.”

He added: “I think we are deeply impressed by the Chinese because of our ambivalent attitude towards them.” That’s why people tend to turn a blind eye.

“You know, people like me get criticized because we make too much of it, and then you see that happen.”

“If you can break into Parliament in this way for such a long period of time… how many other institutions with lower levels of security are being attacked on a daily basis?”