{"id":2615784,"date":"2026-06-18T17:24:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T21:24:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/uk-sentences-two-chinese-british-nationals-who-spied-for-beijing\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T17:25:49","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T21:25:49","slug":"uk-sentences-two-chinese-british-nationals-who-spied-for-beijing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/uk-sentences-two-chinese-british-nationals-who-spied-for-beijing\/","title":{"rendered":"UK sentences two Chinese British nationals who spied for Beijing"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fuk-sentences-two-chinese-british-nationals-who-spied-for-beijing%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2615784&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Two individuals in the UK, former Hong Kong Police Superintendent Bill Yuen and Border Force officer Peter Wai, were sentenced to a total of 18 years for spying on behalf of China. They collaborated on a covert operation targeting pro-democracy Chinese dissidents in the UK, exemplifying concerns over Beijing&#8217;s influence and espionage activities, including infiltrating institutions like Parliament. Wai, who previously served in London&#8217;s Metropolitan Police and Royal Navy, and Yuen, associated with the Hong Kong Economic and trade Office in London, reported directly to Chinese authorities and targeted dissidents seeking sanctuary in the UK. Their convictions, the first under the UK&#8217;s National Security Act 2023, have heightened fears of Chinese espionage, despite protests from Hong Kong officials claiming the case is politically motivated.The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-puts-freedom-of-press-on-trial-in-nashville-trans-shooter-manifesto-battle\/\" title=\"Judge Challenges Press Freedom in Nashville Trans Shooter &#039;Manifesto&#039; ...\">case underscores ongoing tensions<\/a> over China&#8217;s intelligence operations and the UK government\u2019s response to perceived threats.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/united-kingdom\/\">United Kingdom<\/a> sentenced two people to prison on Thursday after they were convicted of spying on behalf of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/china\/\">China<\/a>, renewing concerns about Beijing\u2019s influence in the country.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Former Hong Kong Police Superintendent Bill Yuen and U.K. Border Force officer Peter Wai were sentenced to a combined 18 years in prison, according to an order from Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb, who presides over London\u2019s Central Criminal Court. The pair worked in tandem on behalf of Beijing to carry out a \u201cshadow policing operation\u201d targeting Chinese pro-democracy dissidents, or \u201ccockroaches,\u201d living in the U.K., according to prosecutors.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4614705\/cuba-expand-private-business-economic-plan\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Cuba expands private business permits in emergency economic plan<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4614396\/iran-state-media-concession-deal-mou\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Iranian state media brag about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cuba-expands-permits-in-emergency-economic-plan\/\" title=\"Cuba expands permits in emergency economic plan\">key concessions country claimed<\/a> to secure from US in peace deal<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4614077\/china-foreign-intelligence-spy-fish-in-waters\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>China says \u2018spy turtles\u2019 and \u2018spy fish\u2019 are meddling in its waters<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey were spying and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/congressional-dems-skeptical-of-biden-tax-hikes-fear-agenda-dangling-by-a-thread\/\" title=\"Congressional Dems \u2018Skeptical... Of Biden Tax Hikes, Fear Agenda \u2018Dangling By A Thread...\">targeting individuals<\/a> in the U.K. who were pro-democracy campaigners and were simply protesting against the Hong Kong and Chinese government and authorities and seeking sanctuary in the U.K.,\u201d Helen Flanagan, commander for Counter Terrorism Policing London, said in a statement calling their activity \u201ctruly chilling.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two men were found guilty in early May of assisting a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >foreign intelligence service<\/a> and appear to be the first in Great Britain to be convicted of the offense under the U.K.\u2019s sweeping National Security Act 2023.\u00a0Their sentencing<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4480913\/conservative-leader-keir-starmer-china-threat-parliament-spy\/\"> comes as fears about China spying in Britain<\/a>, including through infiltrating Parliament and surveilling lawmakers, have risen in recent years, particularly after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chilean-officials-discover-21-year-old-u-s-naval-academy-midshipman-deceased-body-in-lagoon\/\" title=\"Chilean Officials Discover 21-Year-Old U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman Deceased Body In Lagoon\">officials authorized<\/a> a massive new Chinese Embassy in London, despite<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4425412\/uk-approves-chinese-mega-embassy-despite-espionage-concerns\/\"> international concerns<\/a> that the facility could be used to spy on nearby sensitive infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prime Minister Keir Starmer \u201cneeds to stop being naive, grow a backbone, and treat China like the threat we all know it is,\u201d Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch warned earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wai had served in London\u2019s Metropolitan Police and was in the Royal Navy for eight years. He drew a fellow Border Force officer named Matthew Trickett into his surveillance of Hong Kong dissidents, according to prosecutors.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yuen, the former Hong Kong police officer, was the office manager at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London. He became Wai\u2019s contact with Chinese authorities. The pair were introduced in 2017, and by the middle of 2021, Yuen had become Wai\u2019s handler, to whom he reported directly about the activities of Hong Kong dissidents and pro-democracy protesters in the U.K.,<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c0m2wjlkzplo\"> according to<\/a> the BBC.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4425162\/johnson-stresses-friendship-with-uk-address-parliament\/\"><strong>JOHNSON STRESSES FRIENDSHIP WITH UK IN ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hong Kong has claimed that the pair\u2019s convictions were built on \u201cgroundless accusations\u201d that \u201cabused law and manipulated judicial procedures.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The men have said they are innocent. The Chinese Embassy in London said the case was \u201cnothing but a political move of abusing the law.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UK jails two for spying for China, raising Beijing influence fears<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2615785,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26169516464204.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[81403,12646,63009,9541,51254],"class_list":["post-2615784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-chinese-british-nationals","tag-espionage","tag-international-security","tag-spying","tag-uk-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26169516464204.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2615784"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615784\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2615788,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615784\/revisions\/2615788"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2615785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2615784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2615784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2615784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}