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Per multiple government sources, China has allegedly threatened to retaliate toward the UK if officials move to designate certain elements of its security apparatus under recently established external lobbying disclosure rules.

Diplomatic Tensions Escalate

Chinese representatives supposedly communicated this warning to the Foreign Office soon after reports emerged that the UK government was considering such measures. This situation has heightened alarm bells given the government's continued hesitance to apply stricter external lobbying rules on advocates representing China or any segment of the PRC government.

Current Foreign Influence Registration Scheme

At present, only Russia and Iran have been placed on the enhanced category of the external lobbying registry (Firs), which came into effect in the summer and became fully operational this month. This framework mandates anyone in the UK representing a foreign power or entity to declare their activities to the authorities or face criminal sanctions.

• The enhanced category applies to nations and organizations deemed a significant threat.
• It requires additional disclosures above the standard obligations.
• As a result, anyone performing unregistered work on behalf of Iran or Moscow faces up to five years in prison.

Potential Designations

Earlier this year, sources suggested that rather than designating China as a whole, UK officials were evaluating including specific parts of the Chinese political system that have been accused of interference in western nations to the enhanced category.

Such entities reportedly include:

• The PRC's primary intelligence agency
• The CCP (CCP)
• The United Front Work Department
• The People's Liberation Army (PLA)

Dismissed Spying Trial

Meanwhile, the government is under growing pressure over the recent collapse of an espionage case involving two Britons, comprising a former parliamentary researcher. the first defendant, a ex- parliamentary aide to Tory parliamentarians, and his friend the second defendant had been accused of working on behalf of China.

Their trial was abruptly dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in mid-September. The accused men had denied the allegations.

Judicial Complications

Journalistic accounts suggested that the government's refusal to formally describe China as an "adversarial state" in official testimony from a intelligence representative led to the trial's dismissal. Jonathan Powell, the prime minister's national security adviser, allegedly chaired a meeting in the UK government headquarters where he told officials that the government's testimony would avoid labeling the Chinese government an enemy.

Official insiders subsequently rejected the allegation that the security adviser was involved in limiting government evidence.

The judicial complication originated in the espionage legislation of 1911, which states that a person is responsible for spying if they transmit information "directly or indirectly useful to an enemy". Yet, the present government's national security strategy describes China as a "geo-strategic challenge" rather than an adversary.

Continuing Bilateral Relations

Notwithstanding these tensions, British-Chinese relations appear to be warming. Several senior UK officials have visited Beijing on state trips after the new government came to power. Among them are the business secretary, who engaged in trade talks recently, and the national security adviser, who traveled during the summer.

Furthermore, talks have supposedly taken place between senior Foreign Office officials and parliamentary leadership regarding the possibility of lifting the prohibition on the PRC diplomat entering the legislature, potentially in exchange for Beijing lifting its sanctions on UK parliamentarians.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is largely anticipated to make a state visit to China in early the coming year, though the specific schedule might be dependent on international factors, including a potential trip by ex-American leader Donald Trump.