China has issued a stern warning to the United Kingdom, urging them to “cease anti-China political manipulation and refrain from causing trouble” in response to the scandal involving Prince Andrew’s alleged ties to Chinese spies, which has sent shockwaves through British society.
On Wednesday, the Financial Times (FT) reported that a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in London posted a statement on their website: “We urge the UK side to immediately stop creating trouble, stop anti-China political manipulations, and stop undermining normal personnel exchanges between China and the UK.”
The spokesperson characterized the situation as a diversion, asserting that “What they are really up to is to smear China, target against the Chinese community in the UK, and undermine normal personnel exchanges between China and the UK.”
The statement further advised, “It must be pointed out that the CPC and the Chinese government uphold that countries should pursue friendship and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality, and mutual benefit.”
The controversy erupted when it was revealed that Prince Andrew, brother of King Charles III, had connections with a Chinese businessman suspected of espionage. Yang Tengbo, the businessman in question, is alleged to have been a member of the Chinese Communist Party and worked for the United Front Work Department (UFWD), an organization responsible for intelligence gathering. Yang has since been barred from entering the UK by the Home Office.
Both the Chinese government and Yang have vehemently denied these allegations. Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, dismissed the accusations of espionage against China as “absurd.”
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