Is It Really So Hard for the UK to Call China a Threat?

Keir Starmer’s Labour government came into office last year promising to replace the conflicted and repeatedly shifting China policy of its Conservative predecessors with a long-term and strategic approach. The confusion and drama surrounding a collapsed spying case against two Britons accused of passing information to Beijing shows little has changed.

The charges were dropped at London’s Old Bailey court in mid-September after prosecutors determined the “evidential standard” was no longer met. The decision caused consternation among members of Parliament, officials and the security services. Police had regarded the case as a “slam dunk,” according to one MP who was allegedly spied on. Starmer’s spokesman said it was “extremely disappointing” the pair wouldn’t face trial.