China poses 'real national security threats' to UK, PM warns

Sir Keir Starmer has warned China poses "real nationalist information threats to the United Kingdom".

But the premier curate besides described China arsenic a "nation of immense scale, ambition and ingenuity" and a "defining unit successful technology, commercialized and planetary governance".

"The UK needs a China argumentation that recognises this reality," helium added successful a code astatine the Guildhall successful London.

"Instead, for years we person blown blistery and cold.

"So our effect volition not beryllium driven by fear, nor softened by illusion. It volition beryllium grounded successful strength, clarity and sober realism."

Describing the lack of engagement with China - the world's second-biggest system - arsenic "staggering" and "a dereliction of duty", Sir Keir said: "This is not a question of balancing economical and information considerations. We don't commercialized disconnected information successful 1 area, for a spot much economical entree determination else.

"Protecting our information is non-negotiable - our archetypal duty. But by taking pugnacious steps to support america secure, we alteration ourselves to cooperate successful different areas."

Sir Keir's remarks travel aft MPs and parliamentarians were warned past period of new attempts to spy connected them by China.

And they travel the collapse of a prosecution of 2 radical suspected of spying connected behalf of China.

That lawsuit led to contention implicit however the authorities nether Labour responded to the Crown Prosecution Service's requests for evidence.

At the time, Sir Keir sought to blasted the erstwhile Conservative authorities for the issues, which centred connected whether China could beryllium designated an "enemy" nether First World War-era legislation.

Meanwhile, Sky News understands the premier curate is acceptable to o.k. plans for a arguable Chinese "super embassy" successful cardinal London.

A last determination connected the readying exertion for the erstwhile Royal Mint tract adjacent the Tower of London is owed connected 10 December, aft galore erstwhile delays.

Sir Keir is besides understood to beryllium preparing for a apt sojourn to China successful the caller year.

This breaking quality communicative is being updated and much details volition beryllium published shortly.

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