Suspected Chinese spy with business ties to Prince Andrew barred from UK
A suspected Chinese spy with business ties to Prince Andrew has been barred from the United Kingdom because of concerns that he posed a threat to national security
LONDON — A suspected Chinese spy with business ties to Prince Andrew has been barred from the U.K. because of concerns he poses a threat to national security.
A British immigration tribunal upheld the decision on Thursday in a ruling that revealed the Chinese national had developed such a close relationship with Andrew that he was invited to the prince’s birthday party.
Government officials were concerned the man could have misused his influence because the prince was under “considerable pressure” at the time, according to the ruling.
British authorities believe the Chinese national, whose name wasn’t released, was working on behalf of the United Front Work Department, an arm of the Chinese Communist Party that is used to influence foreign entities.
The government determined that the businessman “was in a position to generate relationships between senior Chinese officials and prominent U.K. figures which could be leveraged for political interference purposes by the Chinese State,” according to the tribunal's decision.
In a statement from his office, Andrew, also known as the Duke of York, said he accepted government advice and ceased all contact with the Chinese national as soon as concerns were raised.
“The Duke met the individual through official channels with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed,″ his office said. “He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security.”
Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III, has been repeatedly criticized for his links to wealthy foreigners, raising concerns that those
Read more on abcnews.go.com
