US, UK leaders raise fresh alarms about Chinese espionage

he of FBI and leer of Britain's domestic intelligence ncy raised alarms Wednesday about Chinese government, warning business leers that Beijing is determined to steal ir techlogy for competitive gain.

FBI Director Christopher Wray reaffirmed previous concerns in deuncing ecomic espion and hacking operations by China as well as Chinese government's efforts to stifle dissent abro. But his speech was table because it took place at MI5's London hequarters and alongside ncy's director general, Ken McCallum, in an intended show of Western solidarity.

It also showed extent to which Wray and FBI regard Chinese government as t only a law enforcement and intelligence challenge, but are also attuned to implications of Beijing's foreign policy actions.

“We consistently see that it's Chinese government that poses biggest long-term threat to our ecomic and national security, and by our,' I mean both of our nations, along with our allies in Europe and elsewhere,” Wray said.

Officials described it as first time that leers of FBI and MI5 h shared a st for a joint speech.

McCallum said Chinese government and its “covert pressure across globe” amounts to “ most game-changing challenge we face.” “This might feel abstract. But it's real and it's pressing,” McCallum said. “We need to talk about it. We need to act.” A spokesman for Chinese embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, said in an emailed statement that China “firmly opposes and combats all forms of cyber attacks” and called US accusations groundless.

In a d to current tensions between China and Taiwan, Wray said any forcible takeover of Taipei by Beijing would “would represent one of most horrific business disruptions world has ever seen." Last week, US government's director of national intelligence said re were indications Chinese President Xi Jinping was poised to take Taiwan by military force. Avril Haines did say Xi appeared to be planning for that potential action as part of a broer goal of reunification of Taiwan.

After appearance with his British counterpart, Wray said that he would leave to ors question of wher an invasion of Taiwan was more or less likely after Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

“I don't have any reason to think ir interest in Taiwan has abated in any fashion,” Wray said, ding that he hoped China h learned what happens “when you overplay your hand,” as he said Russians have done in Ukraine.

FBI director said re are signs Chinese, perhaps drawing lessons from Russia's experience since war, have looked for ways to “insulate ir ecomy” against potential sanctions.

“In our world, we call that behaviour a clue,” said Wray, who throughout his speech urged caution from Western companies looking to do business in or with China. He said Western investments in China could collapse in event of an invasion of Taiwan.

“Just as in Russia, Western investments built over years could become hosts, capital stranded (and) supply chains and relationships disrupted,” he said.

President Joe Biden said in May that US would respond militarily if China inved Taiwan, offering one of most forceful White House statements in support of Taiwan's self-governing in deces.

White House later tried to soften impact of statement, saying Biden was t outlining a change in US policy toward Taiwan, a self-governing island that China views as a breakaway province that should be reunified with mainland.

embassy spokesman said Taiwan issue was “purely China's internal affair” and that when it comes to questions of China's territory and sovereignty, country has " room for compromise or concession”. (AP) SCY SCY