Pubs and park benches around London have reportedly been bugged by Chinese spies. Government officials have been warned to avoid certain “hotspots” in the SW1 postcode as Beijing tries to steal state secrets.
A pub near the Houses of Parliament was reportedly “full of Chinese agents,” according to one source. It has also been claimed that five-star hotels in the area were risky locations for officials to discuss Government matters, reports the Express.
Spy chiefs have also claimed that agents of Xi Jinping have been eavesdropping on government secrets by bugging park benches around Westminster – often popular meeting spots for researchers and civil servants at lunch.
One source told the Daily Mail: “We have been told the Chinese literally have the park bugged, with devices in the bushes and under park benches.”
A second added: “Commons researchers are regarded by the Chinese, and other spies including the Russians and Iranians, as the soft underbelly of Whitehall.”
China has previously been criticised for using spying techniques to access government secrets. MPs say that they’ve experienced a high number of hacking attempts while parliamentarians are given regular security briefings on how to handle the threat.
Doctors treating British soldiers have also been targeted by Chinese hackers who have reportedly tried to steal their patient data. Some say that they have been advised to take extra precautions such as not taking their mobile phones into appointments with their patients and keeping only paper records.
One doctor said: “I have a real problem with the Chinese trying to get my communications.”
A senior source added: “We need to wake the world up to just how serious the situation is. We’ve got too many people looking to make ties with China. They need a wake-up call.”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp also said: “We know China is building a spying and repression network right here in the UK.”
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