LONDON — A Chinese national suspected of espionage has been prohibited from entering the United Kingdom due to threats posed to the nation’s security. An immigration tribunal issued this ruling on Thursday, revealing that the individual had formed a notably close connection with Prince Andrew, even being invited to the prince’s birthday celebration.
There were significant concerns among British officials regarding the potential misuse of influence, especially as the prince faced “considerable pressure” during that period. Authorities believe the unnamed individual was affiliated with the United Front Work Department, a segment of the Chinese Communist Party aimed at influencing foreign entities.
According to the tribunal’s ruling, the government concluded that the businessman held a position which allowed him to cultivate relationships between senior Chinese officials and notable figures in the U.K., potentially facilitating political interference by the Chinese government. In response, the Duke of York’s office stated that Andrew had followed governmental advice and ended all dealings with the individual when concerns were first raised.
The statement from Andrew’s office clarified that their interaction was entirely formal and devoid of sensitive topics. It emphasized his inability to discuss issues linked to national security. The critiques have mounted against Prince Andrew due to his connections with affluent foreigners, which has ignited worries that these individuals might attempt to gain access to the royal family.
Financial challenges have also plagued Andrew in recent years, particularly after he distanced himself from royal responsibilities and relinquished public funding as concerns regarding his association with the late Jeffrey Epstein — a financier with a criminal history — intensified following Epstein’s suicide in prison in 2019.
British intelligence has grown markedly wary of China’s endeavors to sway U.K. governance. In 2022, MI5, the domestic intelligence agency, alerted lawmakers about a British-Chinese attorney engaged in attempts to unduly influence Parliament members for several years. Moreover, in 2023, a parliamentary researcher was detained on suspicion of leaking sensitive information to China.
The 50-year-old Chinese national referenced in the tribunal ruling was reportedly a junior civil servant in China before he arrived in the U.K. as a student in 2002. After obtaining a master’s in public administration and public policy from the University of York, he launched a business that aids U.K. companies in navigating operations within China.
In 2013, he was granted indefinite leave to reside and work in the U.K. Although he did not consider Britain as his permanent base, he informed authorities that he typically spent one to two weeks each month there, regarding it as his “second home.”
On November 6, 2021, he was intercepted while attempting to enter the U.K., where authorities directed him to hand over his mobile phone and other electronic devices. During this process, officials uncovered a letter from a senior adviser to Prince Andrew, which substantiated that he was permitted to represent the prince concerning potential investors and partners in China.
This letter and associated documentation underscored the depth of the connection between Andrew, his adviser, and the Chinese national. The adviser noted in the correspondence that it was crucial for the individual to recognize his standing with Andrew and his family, implying that many would aspire to be in a similar position.
Furthermore, the communication indicated that they had devised a method for circumventing former private secretaries to the prince and others deemed less trustworthy. “With your guidance, we found a way to get the relevant people in and out of the house in Windsor without being noticed,” the adviser wrote, highlighting the significant ties and operational dynamics at play.
Prince Andrew resides at the Royal Lodge, a historic estate located near Windsor Castle, situated to the west of London.
