The MI5 espionage alert issued on November 17, 2025, is based on intelligence findings that Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) officers are actively using recruitment professionals and professional networking platforms to target individuals with access to sensitive UK governmental information.[1]

Intelligence Basis and Methodology

MI5’s assessment identified specific operational tactics employed by Chinese intelligence services, including the naming of two recruitment professionals—Amanda Qiu, chief executive of BR-YR Executive Search, and Shirly Shen, co-founder of the Internship Union—whom the Security Service determined were being utilized by the MSS to “conduct outreach at scale” on behalf of Chinese intelligence. The intelligence service concluded these individuals were using LinkedIn profiles to establish contact with Members of Parliament, Peers, and Parliamentary staff.[2]

The Security Service’s findings indicate that the MSS operational objective is to collect information and establish long-term relationships with targets who possess access to sensitive information about the British state. According to the alert circulated by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the MSS approach involves using “professional networking sites, recruitment agents and consultants acting on their behalf” to reach individuals within the parliamentary community.[1]

Broader Intelligence Assessment Context

The espionage alert represents part of a comprehensive intelligence assessment of Chinese espionage activities in the United Kingdom. In October 2025, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum stated that China was engaging in cyberespionage and theft of advanced technology. The Security Service has documented multiple vectors of Chinese intelligence activity, including traditional human intelligence recruitment, cyber operations targeting government officials’ communications, and large-scale data collection targeting British citizens.[3]

MI5’s assessment identified China’s involvement in sophisticated cyber espionage operations, including the Salt Typhoon campaign that compromised telecommunications companies globally in 2025. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre concluded that data obtained through such operations could enable Chinese intelligence to monitor and track communications and movements globally.[4]

Governmental Response and Security Measures

In response to MI5’s intelligence findings, Security Minister Dan Jarvis announced a Counter Political Interference and Espionage Action Plan, characterizing the Chinese activities as a “covert and calculated attempt by China to interfere with our sovereign affairs”. The action plan includes £170 million investment in encrypted technology for civil servants and £130 million for Counter Terrorism Policing capabilities under the National Security Act.[1]

The government confirmed completion of removal of surveillance equipment manufactured by companies subject to China’s National Intelligence Law from all sensitive UK government sites worldwide. Additionally, the Security Minister announced that intelligence services would deliver security briefings to political parties and issue guidance to election candidates to help them recognize and resist espionage approaches.[1]

Sources

[1] Action to disrupt and deter threats to UK as MI5 issues spy alert https://www.gov.uk/government/news/action-to-disrupt-and-deter-threats-to-uk-as-mi5-issues-spy-alert

[2] MI5 issues espionage alert over Chinese spy fears https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/18/mi5-issues-espionage-alert-over-chinese-spy-fears/

[3] Chinese Spies Are Using LinkedIn to Target U.K. Lawmakers, MI5 Warns https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/world/europe/chinese-spies-linkedin-uk.html

[4] How China really spies on the UK in 2025 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgr4xpyrkdqo

[5] UK will not tolerate Chinese spying, minister says after MI5 alert https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gpnz05kr8o

[6] MI5 warns UK lawmakers Chinese spies trying to reach them via LinkedIn https://www.euronews.com/2025/11/18/mi5-spy-agency-warns-chinese-agents-are-trying-to-recruit-uk-politicians-on-linkedin

[7] Chinese spies using LinkedIn to target British lawmakers, MI5 warns https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/18/uk/britain-china-spy-linkedin-mi5-latam-intl

[8] Britain’s MI5 spy service warns UK MPs Chinese spies posing as headhunters https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-19/britain-s-mi5-spy-service-warns-lawmakers-of-chinese-spy-risk/106025666

[9] MI5 issues new China espionage warning after spies pose as headhunters on LinkedIn to target MPs https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/china-spies-mi5-mps-peers-espionage-b2867379.html

[10] MI5 spy service warns UK lawmakers Chinese spies posing as headhunters https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-security-service-warns-lawmakers-chinese-spy-risk-2025-11-18/

[11] U.K. intelligence agency warns lawmakers that Chinese spies are trying to reach them via LinkedIn https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/uk-intelligence-agency-warns-lawmakers-that-chinese-spies-are-trying-to-reach-them-via-linkedin/

[12] UK intelligence agency warns lawmakers that Chinese … https://halifax.citynews.ca/2025/11/18/uk-intelligence-agency-warns-lawmakers-that-chinese-spies-are-trying-to-reach-them-via-linkedin/

[13] MI5 warns UK MPs of alleged Chinese espionage activity – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhgY1ZjmtoI

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MI5 cited several specific forms of evidence in its espionage alert regarding Chinese intelligence operations targeting UK parliamentarians.[1]

Named Individuals and Organizations

The Security Service specifically identified two recruitment professionals by name and their associated organizations as evidence of Chinese Ministry of State Security operations:[2]

Amanda Qiu – identified as chief executive of BR-YR Executive Search, whom MI5 determined was using LinkedIn profiles to “conduct outreach at scale” on behalf of the Chinese MSS.[3][2]

Shirly Shen – identified as co-founder of the Internship Union (based in Hong Kong), similarly determined to be using LinkedIn for MSS operational purposes.[4][2]

Pattern Analysis Evidence

MI5’s evidence extended beyond these two named individuals to establish broader operational patterns. The alert specifically noted that “other similar profiles are acting as fronts for espionage,” indicating the Security Service had identified multiple fake or controlled recruitment accounts operating on professional networking platforms. This pattern recognition formed a key component of MI5’s assessment that the activity was both “targeted and widespread”.[5]

Operational Methods Identified

The intelligence service documented specific tradecraft employed by Chinese intelligence officers, including evidence that operations were “often masked through the use of cover companies or external headhunters”. MI5 determined that these approaches were designed to “collect information and lay the groundwork for long-term relationships” with parliamentary targets.[1][5]

Security Minister Dan Jarvis informed Parliament that MI5’s evidence showed Chinese intelligence was targeting not only parliamentarians but also “parliamentary staff, economists, think tank employees, geo-political consultants and government officials” for “their networks and access to politicians”. The intelligence assessment revealed that China maintains “a low threshold for what information is considered to be of value, and will gather individual pieces of information to gather a wider picture”.[2]

Previous Disrupted Operations

The alert drew upon MI5’s established intelligence record regarding Chinese espionage operations. MI5 Director General Ken McCallum disclosed in October 2025 that his service had “intervened operationally” to disrupt Chinese intelligence activity targeting the UK “in the past week” prior to his speech, indicating ongoing operational intelligence collection. The Security Service had previously identified fake job advertisements created by Chinese intelligence services to lure British professionals into compromising situations, with thousands of suspicious postings identified on online recruitment platforms.[5]

Sources

[1] MI5 issues espionage alert over Chinese spy fears – The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/18/mi5-issues-espionage-alert-over-chinese-spy-fears/

[2] MPs and Lords warned by MI5 over Chinese espionage using … – ITVX https://www.itv.com/news/2025-11-18/mps-and-lords-warned-by-mi5-over-chinese-espionage

[3] Parliamentarians warned by MI5 over Chinese spying threats https://uk.news.yahoo.com/parliamentarians-warned-mi5-over-chinese-124732536.html

[4] Chinese Spies Are Using LinkedIn to Target U.K. Lawmakers, MI5 … https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/world/europe/chinese-spies-linkedin-uk.html

[5] MI5 warns UK lawmakers of rising Chinese influence … https://www.dailysabah.com/world/europe/mi5-warns-uk-lawmakers-of-rising-chinese-influence-spying-efforts

[6] LIVE | MI5 Director General Issues Chilling Warning On China, Russia, Iran ‘Spies’ | UK News | Crux https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP-nEgvQhNs

[7] Alleged China spy breaks silence as MI5 chief brands Beijing a daily threat https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2122396/China-Beijing-spy-threat-MI5-intelligence-Starmer-Labour

[8] MI5 issues alert to MPs and peers over Chinese espionage – Latest From ITV News https://www.itv.com/watch/news/mi5-issues-alert-to-mps-and-peers-over-chinese-espionage/5k1tyhd

[9] Grave threat: British spy chief confirms MI5 crushed Chinese plot to … https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/grave-threat-british-spy-chief-confirms-mi5-crushed-chinese-plot-to-attack-uk-security/articleshow/124609676.cms

[10] MI5 chief warns of ‘fast-rising’ state threats as China plot disrupted https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/124482/mi5-chief-warns-of-fast-rising-state-threats-as-china-plot-disrupted/

[11] UK will not tolerate Chinese spying, minister says after MI5 alert – BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gpnz05kr8o

[12] MI5 spy service warns UK lawmakers Chinese … https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-security-service-warns-lawmakers-chinese-spy-risk-2025-11-18/

[13] MI5 Warns UK Lawmakers of Espionage Threat from China, Russia … https://slguardian.org/mi5-warns-uk-lawmakers-of-espionage-threat-from-china-russia-and-iran/

[14] MI5 warns UK lawmakers that Chinese spies are trying to reach … https://www.barchart.com/story/news/36183749/mi5-warns-uk-lawmakers-that-chinese-spies-are-trying-to-reach-them-via-linkedin

[15] UK warns lawmakers that Chinese spies are trying to reach … https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/uk-intelligence-agency-warns-lawmakers-chinese-spies-reach-127625437

[16] MI5 issues new China espionage warning after spies pose as … https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/china-spies-mi5-mps-peers-espionage-b2867379.html

[17] Parliamentarians warned of new spying attempts from China-linked … https://news.sky.com/story/parliamentarians-warned-of-new-spying-attempts-from-china-linked-agents-13472196

[18] British parliamentarians warned against China-linked spying activity https://www.ptinews.com/story/sports/british-parliamentarians-warned-against-china-linked-spying-activity/3110117

[19] Britain’s MI5 spy service issues alert to MPs over Chinese … https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-19/britain-s-mi5-spy-service-warns-lawmakers-of-chinese-spy-risk/106025666

[20] U.K.’s MI5 spy service warns lawmakers of Chinese spy risk https://www.nbcnews.com/world/united-kingdom/brtain-mi5-spy-service-lawmakers-china-spy-risk-parliament-rcna244573

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MI5 Director General Sir Ken McCallum disclosed details of a recently disrupted Chinese intelligence operation during his annual threat update speech on October 15, 2025, at MI5 headquarters in Thames House.[1][3]

Recent Operational Disruption

McCallum revealed that MI5 officers had “intervened operationally” to disrupt a Chinese intelligence operation “just in the past week” prior to his speech, indicating active measures taken between October 8-15, 2025. While the director general did not provide specific operational details of this disruption—consistent with intelligence service protocols—he emphasized that MI5 maintains a “strong” track record in “preventing, detecting and disrupting activity of national security concern”.[3]

The timing of this disclosure was particularly significant as it occurred amid intense political controversy surrounding the collapsed prosecution of two British men accused of spying for China.[4]

The Collapsed Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry Case

McCallum’s remarks directly referenced a high-profile espionage case that MI5 had investigated but which ultimately collapsed in September 2025. The case involved Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher to prominent Conservative MPs, and Christopher Berry, a teacher, both accused of providing information to China under the Official Secrets Act for alleged offenses occurring between 2021 and 2023.[5][3]

The Crown Prosecution Service dropped all charges in September 2025, with Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson stating that government officials had refused to provide witness testimony affirming that China posed a threat to national security during the timeframe of the alleged offenses. Parkinson confirmed that “efforts to obtain that evidence were made over many months,” but by late August 2025 it became clear “this evidence would not be forthcoming,” making the prosecution impossible to proceed.[6]

MI5’s Response and Operational Success

Despite the prosecution’s collapse, McCallum emphasized that MI5 had successfully disrupted the alleged espionage operation itself. The director general stated: “I would remind you all that in the particular case… the activity was disrupted”. He acknowledged feeling “frustrated when opportunities to prosecute national security threatening activity are not followed,” but stressed that the Security Service had fulfilled its operational mandate by stopping the espionage activity.[3]

McCallum declared that MI5 “will never back off” from confronting Chinese intelligence threats and confirmed unequivocally that “Chinese state actors present a UK national security threat… every day”.[3]

Broader State Threat Operations Disrupted

McCallum’s October 2025 threat assessment revealed that MI5 had disrupted numerous state-backed operations across multiple adversaries:[7]

Iran: More than 20 “potentially lethal Iran-backed plots” were disrupted in the preceding 12 months, with Tehran plotting to injure and kill perceived enemies on British soil.[8][3]

Russia: MI5 and police disrupted a “steady stream of surveillance plots with hostile intent” aimed at individuals Russian leaders perceive as enemies, with Russia “committed to causing havoc and destruction”.[7][3]

The director general reported that the number of individuals under investigation for “state threat activity” from China, Russia, and Iran had increased by 35% in the past year.[3]

Sources

[1] MI5 operating in new era of terror and state threats, says chief – BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgr40w2zereo

[2] Director General Ken McCallum gives threat update – MI5 https://www.mi5.gov.uk/director-general-ken-mccallum-gives-threat-update

[3] MI5 boss says China plot disrupted in past week – amid rise in state … https://news.sky.com/story/mi5-boss-says-he-will-never-back-off-from-china-threat-as-beijing-plot-disrupted-in-last-week-13451068

[4] MI5 chief Sir Ken McCallum ‘frustrated’ by collapse of China spy case https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/16/mi5-chief-frustrated-collapse-china-spy-case/

[5] UK’s MI5 chief calls China a security threat as officials trade blame … https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/uks-mi5-chief-calls-china-a-security-threat-as-officials-trade-blame-over-spy-case-collapse

[6] Britain’s top prosecutor says Starmer Government blocked evidence … https://www.thebureau.news/p/britains-top-prosecutor-says-starmer

[7] China a threat to UK security, MI5 chief says after spy case collapse https://www.euronews.com/2025/10/16/china-presents-a-daily-threat-to-uk-security-mi5-chief-says-after-spy-case-collapse

[8] MI5 chief: China a daily threat to U.K. security – CTV News https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/article/mi5-chief-says-china-is-a-daily-threat-to-uk-security-amid-row-over-collapse-of-spying-case/

[9] MI5 chief ‘frustrated’ over collapse of China spy case – BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0ex172rxwzo

[10] How China really spies on the UK in 2025 – BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgr4xpyrkdqo

#china