British Security Minister Dan Jarvis addressed Parliament following intelligence warnings from MI5 about alleged attempts by Chinese state-linked actors to recruit individuals with access to sensitive UK government information.
In this video, Jarvis outlines MI5’s warning on potential recruitment and cultivation efforts by Chinese intelligence officers, a new counter-interference and espionage action plan, £170 million investment to upgrade sovereign encrypted technology, removal of surveillance equipment from companies subject to China’s National Intelligence Law, concerns over foreign influence in UK universities and a planned closed meeting with vice-chancellors, and measures to disrupt state-backed cyber espionage.
00:02With your permission, Mr Speaker, our intelligence agencies have warned that China is attempting to recruit and cultivate individuals with access to sensitive information about Parliament and the UK government.
00:19MI5 have stated that this activity is being carried out by a group of Chinese intelligence officers, often masked through the use of cover companies or external headhunters.
00:33We are also working on new powers to counter foreign interference, including, let me speak plainly, this activity involves a covert and calculated attempt by a foreign power to interfere with our sovereign affairs in favour of its own interests, and this government will not tolerate it.
00:57Organisations and individuals that are being used by foreign states to facilitate interference, and today I'm setting out a comprehensive package of measures we are taking to disrupt and deter the threats posed by China as well as by wider state actors.
01:17Supported by ministers from across government and coordinated by myself, we are launching a counter political interference and espionage action plan.
01:27Among other projects, this investment will build counter-terrorism policings.
01:33I can announce that the government has committed to investing £170 million to renew the sovereign encrypted technology our officials use to do their vital work.
01:43This programme of work will help to ensure sensitive diplomatic, economic, trade, security, law enforcement and policy development arrangements are safeguarded from espionage by any state threat actor.
01:59I can also announce that this government has completed the removal of surveillance equipment manufactured by companies subject to the National Intelligence Law of the People's Republic of China from all sensitive sites we maintain in the UK and around the world.
02:19Second, advanced manufacturing.
02:22The Department for Business and Trade is working to strengthen the United States.
02:25There is value for the UK in engagement with China on education.
02:30However, operating in today's uncertain international context presents many challenges for our great universities.
02:37It is because of their excellence that states like China are attempting to influence their independent research and interfere with activity on campus.
02:49Ministers have already raised our concerns about this activity with their counterparts in Beijing.
02:56And the Office for Students has recently issued new guidance to help universities protect the freedoms their staff and students enjoy.
03:04But as part of our ongoing commitment to work collectively to address these risks, I can announce that Ministers will host a closed event with Vice-Chancellors to discuss the risks posed by foreign interference and signpost our plans to further increase the sector's resilience.
03:24Mr. Speaker, in October, I told the House that this government remains steadfast in our commitment to disrupting and holding state actors accountable for wide-scale cyber espionage operations.
03:38And we stand ready to go further, to disrupt, degrade and protect against the dangerous and unrestrained offensive cyber ecosystem that China has allowed to take hold.
03:54Mr. Speaker
04:04Mr. Speaker, in a large scale, U.S.
04:09To Europe, we have a feature of theittens-Inした Celebration program that has revealed to distract the positive trend in anchain is that America has great understanding.
04:15Mr. Speaker, in China looks like that there is a new question, which is the secondogen how to wrestle and Dire侍.
04:20Mr. mayor, as president of the United States.
Be the first to comment