MI5 chief frustrated over China spy case — The Director General of MI5, Sir Ken McCallum, has voiced deep frustration after the collapse of a major China spy case, saying it is “frustrating when prosecutions fall through.” Speaking at Thames House, McCallum warned that Chinese state operatives present a daily national security threat to the UK, adding that MI5 had recently intervened to disrupt Chinese activities posing national security risks.
The controversy erupted following the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to drop charges against two men — Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry — accused of spying for China. The CPS concluded that the available evidence failed to prove that China posed an official national security threat at the time of the alleged offences.
However, recently released witness statements by Matthew Collins, the UK’s deputy national security adviser, appear to contradict this conclusion. Collins described China as engaging in “large scale espionage” against the UK and labelled it “the biggest state-based threat to the country’s economic security.” His remarks have reignited debate over whether political or economic interests may have influenced the CPS’s decision.
Political Firestorm Over Collapsed Case
The collapse of the China spy case has triggered widespread criticism across the political spectrum. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the Labour government of “undermining Britain’s national security” to avoid jeopardising trade relations with Beijing. In her letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Badenoch wrote that the events left the impression that the government was “too weak to stand up to China.”
Downing Street has rejected the claims, saying it would have been “absurd” for the prime minister to intervene in a criminal matter handled independently by the CPS. Sir Keir Starmer defended the CPS’s decision, noting that the prosecution depended on proving that China was officially classified as an enemy between 2021 and 2023 — something the former Conservative government never declared.
Still, the backlash continues to grow. Former Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, who previously employed one of the accused, Christopher Cash, lashed out at the government during a Commons debate, asking: “Who the hell’s side are you on?”
MI5’s Warning: China’s Espionage Is Real
In his annual speech, Sir Ken McCallum reaffirmed that Chinese state actors are carrying out extensive intelligence-gathering operations against the UK, targeting both the public and private sectors. “When it comes to China, the UK must defend itself resolutely against threats and seize the opportunities that demonstrably serve our nation,” he stated.
McCallum also emphasized that MI5 had disrupted Chinese activity just within the past week, underscoring the ongoing nature of the threat. He described the collapse of the recent prosecution as a “setback” that highlights the challenge of balancing judicial standards with national security realities.
Accused Deny Wrongdoing
Both Cash and Berry, aged 30 and 33 respectively, have denied any wrongdoing. Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Berry, an academic, were accused of collaborating with a Chinese Communist Party official connected to President Xi Jinping’s national security apparatus.
Cash claimed that he was “placed in an impossible situation” without the opportunity for a public trial to prove his innocence. Berry said his reports for a Chinese company were based entirely on publicly available information, denying any connection to Chinese intelligence. “Those reports contained no classified information,” Berry stated, insisting his work involved “political conjecture and analysis” for business clients.
Questions for the CPS and Government
The CPS Director, Stephen Parkinson, has come under intense scrutiny, with MPs questioning why the case was dropped despite what they say was “sufficient evidence” for a jury to decide. Parkinson reportedly told lawmakers the evidence was “5% short” of what was needed for a conviction, prompting calls for a formal parliamentary inquiry.
The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy has already announced a formal investigation into the collapse, with several MPs from both major parties demanding greater transparency from the CPS and the government.
Labour MP Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the CPS, saying: “I can’t see that a jury would have had any problem deciding that China was a threat. I really don’t understand why they were being so pusillanimous about it.”
The Bigger Picture: Security vs. Economy
The collapse of the spy case comes amid Britain’s delicate attempt to maintain economic engagement with China while addressing its espionage concerns. The third witness statement from Matthew Collins, submitted in August 2025, outlined a new diplomatic tone: “We will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.”
Critics argue this shift reflects Labour’s softer stance toward China, prioritizing economic recovery over security vigilance. Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, who also employed Cash as a researcher, accused the government of political interference, noting that the phrasing in Collins’ statement mirrored language from Labour’s manifesto.
As the debate unfolds, MI5’s chief has made one thing clear — China remains the most significant long-term state threat to the UK’s national and economic security. The frustration surrounding this case reflects not just a legal failure, but a deeper struggle to reconcile justice, diplomacy, and defense in an era of global espionage.
Shadows of Secrecy, Echoes of Warning
While the case may have collapsed, the shadow it casts over British intelligence and foreign policy remains large. McCallum’s warning stands as a reminder: the espionage battle never ends, even when the courtroom doors close. The UK’s next steps will test whether it can truly balance open justice with the covert realities of modern statecraft.
Source: BBC News
