The British Overseas Community and Development Office (FCDO) has officially summoned the Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Zheng Zeguang, to address concerns about Beijing's illegal intelligence activities.
The diplomatic move comes amid allegations that China is trying to gather intelligence to illegally affect UK national security.
The UK government has condemned China's actions
In a strong statement released on Tuesday, the FCDO condemned what it described as “China's latest pattern of behavior against the UK” involving cyber-attacks, espionage activities and the offering of bounties.
The department asserted that such actions are unacceptable and violate norms of international conduct and relations between sovereign nations.
Legal proceedings in England
Ambassador Zeng was recalled following the recent indictment of three individuals accused of breaching the National Security Act 2023 in the United Kingdom.
These individuals are said to be supplying overseas services with classified information, prompting a strong response from UK authorities.
The FCDO's strong engagement with the Chinese ambassador highlights growing concerns about national security and international intelligence within the UK government.
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