An alleged Chinese spy, who recently came to the scene, has a close tie with Britain’s Prince Andrew, reports AP.
The Spy said on Monday that he has done “nothing wrong” or unlawful as Britain’s government faced questions about what it is doing to thwart security threats from China.
British authorities allege businessman Yang Tengbo — known only as “H6” until a High Court judge lifted an anonymity order Monday — was working on behalf of the United Front Work Department, an arm of the Chinese Communist Party that is used to influence foreign entities.
It’s the most high-profile case in a series of espionage scandals in recent years that involved suspected or confirmed Chinese intelligence-gathering in Britain’s establishment, including in Parliament.
Who is Yang Tengbo?
Chris Yang, 50, is listed as a director of Hampton Group International, a business consultancy advising UK-based companies on their operations in China. He has been photographed with senior UK politicians, including former Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May, at events.
Yang is reportedly a key member of Pitch@Palace China, an initiative by Prince Andrew to support entrepreneurs.
Yang worked as a junior civil servant in China before arriving in the U.K. in 2002 to study. He earned a master’s degree in public administration and public policy at the University of York before starting his business.
He was granted the right to live and work in the U.K. for an indefinite period in 2013. Yang told authorities he has spent regular time in Britain and considered it his second home.
What happened with the Prince?
Details about Yang’s case emerged last week at a special immigration tribunal, which upheld a decision by British authorities to ban Yang from entering the UK in 2023. The Home Office said he was believed to have carried out “covert and deceptive activity” for the Chinese Communist Party.
Judges agreed with MI5, Britain’s domestic intelligence, that Yang “represented a risk to the national security” and dismissed his appeal.
The tribunal heard that in 2021, authorities found documents that showed how close Yang was to Prince Andrew, King Charles III’s younger brother.
One letter from a senior adviser to Andrew told Yang he should “never underestimate the strength” of his relationship with the royal. “Outside of his closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on,” the adviser wrote.
The tribunal said that when Yang was interviewed by immigration authorities he failed to give a full account of his relationship with the prince, which it said had a “covert and clandestine” element.
Authorities have not made public what information Yang allegedly obtained or was seeking to obtain. But the tribunal cited a 2022 statement by the MI5 director that described the United Front Work Department’s aims as buying and exerting influence, amplifying pro-China voices and silencing those critical of the Chinese government’s authority.
Andrew has been repeatedly criticized for his links to wealthy foreigners and prompted critics to suggest that those individuals were trying to buy access to the royal family.
What has been said about the allegations?
Yang strongly denied the espionage claims and said he was a victim of a changing political climate that had seen a rise in tensions between Britain and China.
“I have done nothing wrong or unlawful,” he said in a statement. “The widespread description of me as a ‘spy’ is entirely untrue.”
Andrew’s office said the royal met Yang “through official channels” and nothing of a sensitive nature was ever discussed.
Bd-Pratidin English/ Afsar Munna
