China's foreign ministry denounces UK spy convictions as 'political farce'

Published on 08/05/2026 - 12:13 GMT+2

China denounced convictions of 2 men successful the United Kingdom for spying connected Hong Kong dissidents arsenic a "political farce" connected Friday, accusing the state of "erroneous practices."

A London assemblage recovered the pair, a retired Hong Kong policeman and a erstwhile UK Border Force official, blameworthy connected Thursday of assisting a overseas quality work pursuing a weeks-long trial.

The high-profile lawsuit exposed however ex-police superintendent Bill Yuen, 65, and 40-year-old Peter Wai conducted "shadow policing" operations connected British ungraded targeting Hong Kong dissidents and exiled pro-democracy protesters.

Asked astir the 2 convictions astatine a regular quality conference, Chinese overseas ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that "China powerfully condemns and firmly opposes this."

"The United Kingdom's apprehension and prosecution of Chinese citizens successful the United Kingdom connected groundless charges, its maltreatment of the instrumentality and manipulation of judicial procedures for conviction, its blatant enactment for anti-China and Hong Kong-destabilising elements and its unreasonable accusations and smears against China are a emblematic governmental farce," Lin said.

"We impulse the UK to close its erroneous practices...and safeguard the hard-won affirmative momentum of China-UK relations," helium added.

'Political move'

The pair's activities were exposed successful May 2024 erstwhile UK constabulary foiled an alleged bid to snatch a erstwhile Hong Kong nonmigratory from her level successful the bluish region of Yorkshire, the tribunal heard.

Tens of thousands of Hong Kongers, including ideology activists wanted by Chinese authorities, person moved to Britain since the Asian fiscal hub enacted a National Security Law successful mid-2020.

Britain's Labour authorities has sought to reset relations but has faced immoderate home opposition.

An earlier connection connected Thursday by an unnamed Chinese embassy spokesperson successful London said that Yuen's condemnation successful peculiar "is thing but a governmental determination of abusing the instrumentality and manipulating the judicial process by the UK side."

The "sole purpose" of the determination is to "embolden those anti-China elements who are hiding successful the UK and bent connected destabilising Hong Kong and to smear the Chinese government," the connection added, calling it a "so-called verdict."

"We deplore (the condemnation of Yuen) and person made solemn representations with the UK side," the Chinese embassy connection said, calling connected London to "immediately halt the anti-China governmental manipulation."

The connection warned that China volition "take indispensable measures to firmly safeguard (its) interests."