It follows a major row over the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service to drop the case against Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry
Keir Starmer has published key evidence in a collapsed China spy case setting out the “large scale espionage operations” of Beijing.
It follows a major row over the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to drop the case against Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry. Both men, who deny wrongdoing, had been accused of passing secrets to China, but charges against them were dropped suddenly last month.
On Wednesday evening, three witness statements from the government’s deputy national security adviser, Matthew Collins, which was given to the CPS, were publicly disclosed after mounting pressure.
His first statement was published under the Conservative government in December 2023. It described Beijing as an “epoch-defining challenge” and warned the Chinese intelligence service are “highly capable and conduct large scale espionage operations against the UK”.
It added this may “harm the interests and security of the UK” but said the government will engage with China directly and “leave room for open, constructive and predictable relations”.
A second statement earlier this year under the current Labour government also warned of the “challenges” posed by the authoritarian state. It said the government was also “committed to pursuing a positive economic relationship with China”.
In a third statement to the CPS – dated August 2025 – Mr Collins repeated the position of China being a challenge and warned of the “espionage threat”. And he said the government was “committed to pursuing a positive relationship with China.”
It added: “The government’s position is that we will cooperate where we can, compete where we need to; and challenge where we must, including on issues of national security”.
Speaking at PMQs, Mr Starmer had insisted the evidence provided was based on the Tory government’s position on Beijing at the time the alleged offences took place. The PM, who said he was “disappointed” the case had been dropped, insisted reviews by the Conservative government had been “carefully worded not to describe China as an enemy”.
He told MPs: “Instead, they stated increased national security protections where China poses a threat, and that the then government would engage with China to leave room open for constructive and predictable relations.”
He added: “Under this Government, no minister or special adviser played any role in the provision of evidence. I can’t say what the position was of the previous government in relation to the involvement of ministers or special advisers.”
Earlier Boris Johnson’s former aide Dominic Cummings also claimed China had compromised a Whitehall system used to transfer highly secretive data across government. He did not say how the system had been breached but that he would be willing to share what he knew with MPs if they were to hold an inquiry. But a spokesman for the Cabinet Office said: “It is untrue to claim that the systems we use to transfer the most sensitive government information have been compromised.”
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