UK warned by China on foreign influence scheme

China threatened to retaliate against the UK government if ministers targeted parts of its security apparatus under foreign influence rules, the Guardian can disclose.

- Eleni Courea Dan Sabbagh

Chinese officials warned the Foreign Office that the move would have negative consequences for relations soon after the Guardian reported it was under consideration, according to two government sources with knowledge of the discussions.

The disclosure will raise alarm bells given that ministers have so far refused to apply stricter foreign influence rules on enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme (Firs), which was introduced in July and came fully into force this month.

First requires anyone in the UK acting for a foreign power or entity to declare their activities to the government or face criminal sanctions. The enhanced tier covers countries and entities deemed a particular risk and requires extra disclosures. As a result, anyone doing undeclared work on behalf of Iran or Russia faces five years in prison.

The Guardian reported in the spring that instead of targeting China as a whole, ministers were considering including specific parts of the Chinese political system that have been accused of interference in the west on the enhanced tier.

Such entities include China's ministry of state security, which is its intelligence service; the Chinese Communist party (CCP); the united front work department, often referred to as the international arm of the CCP, and the People's Liberation Army, which is China's military.