A British Border Force official originally from Hong Kong has been found guilty of using his position to spy on Chinese dissidents for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Chi Leung “Peter” Wai, a British Border Force official, was convicted of spying for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), utilizing his access to immigration databases to track Hong Kong dissidents in Britain. The conviction is the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. 🎯 IMPACT: The conviction highlights vulnerabilities within British national security and raises concerns about foreign influence and espionage activities, as well as the risks and conflicts of interests involved in recruiting immigrants to work as immigration officials. 📰 DETAIL: Wai, alongside Chung Biu “Bill” Yuen, was found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service, with Wai also convicted of misconduct in public office. The jury could not reach a verdict on charges of foreign interference, and the prosecution will not seek a retrial. Wai’s activities included gathering intelligence on Hong Kong dissidents and pro-democracy protesters, with a focus on British politicians. The case was exposed in May 2024 when police thwarted an alleged attempt to abduct a former Hong Kong resident in West Yorkshire, England, leading to the arrest of 11 individuals involved in the operation. 👀 FLASHBACK: Notably, it was reported in 2023 that the British government was itself “doxxing” Chinese dissidents based in the United Kingdom, providing the CCP with their addresses and bank details in accordance with an international tax treaty. Chinese espionage is also a growing threat in the United States, with Chinese nationals in the U.S. becoming involved in industrial and scientific espionage, with one notable case seeing a Chinese researcher charged with smuggling a toxic fungus that could have been used for “agroterroism” into the country. |
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
show less
