LONDON, United Kingdom. China’s ambassador has insisted the UK has “nothing to fear” from his country despite MI5 identifying spying by Beijing as one of the biggest current threats to Britain’s national security.
Liu Xiaoming, speaking ahead of a state visit by the president Xi Jinping, told Sky News China was “a peace-loving country”.
The British security service said on its website that spying, including cyber espionage, by foreign states was still a significant problem, with the activities of the Russian and Chinese intelligence agencies “of greatest concern”.
But Mr Liu told the Murnaghan programme: “I am sorry to hear about this analysis.”
He added: “China is also very much opposed to cybercrime.
“China itself is a victim of hack attack.
“I think countries should work together rather than criticise each other.”
The UK had “nothing to fear about China,” said Mr Liu.
“China is a peace-loving country and the president will be here for a cooperation partnership.”
The ambassador also sought to allay fears over Chinese involvement in Britain’s nuclear energy industry.
Concerns have been raised that Beijing could identify weaknesses in cyber security at critical infrastructure facilities, which could then be exploited at a later date using malware.
But Mr Liu said: “They are here not for so-called control of your nuclear power.
“We are here for win-win co-operation.
“That’s the whole purpose of Chinese investment here.
“We will play by international standards, we will follow international rules
“I think your security authorities, regulation authorities are not that stupid to allow a Chinese company to control your nuclear facilities.”
China has also been blamed for causing problems for the UK’s steel industry by dumping a glut of its product cheaply on global markets, due to its domestic economic slowdown.
It is seen as having contributed to the collapse of steel-making at the Redcar plant on Teesside, with the loss of thousands of jobs.
This dealt a blow to plans by Chancellor George Osborne for a so-called northern powerhouse aimed at rebalancing the economy away from London and the South East.
But Mr Liu said: “I think every country has to adjust itself to globalisation.”
The ambassador also confirmed the Chinese president will meet the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at Buckingham Palace, where he will be staying as the Queen’s guest.
Mr Liu said: “We look forward to a productive, interesting meeting between the president and Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of Labour.”
Mr Xi’s arrival will mark the first state visit to the UK by a Chinese president in a decade.
The last Chinese state visit to the UK was in 2005 when hundreds of campaigners took to the streets in protest at China’s poor human rights record.
Credit: Sky News
