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The story of businessman Yang Tengbo, or alleged spy “H6”, has put into focus how Chinese espionage functions overseas, especially in a world grappling to thwart security threats from the Asian giant
The current president of the United Front Work Department is Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Image: Reuters)
The alleged Chinese spy, who cultivated close ties with Prince Andrew of the British royal family, was working on behalf of the United Front Work Department – an arm of the Chinese Communist Party used to influence foreign entities, as per British authorities.
The story of businessman Yang Tengbo, or “H6″, has put into focus how Chinese espionage functions overseas, especially in a world grappling to thwart security threats from the Asian giant.
As for the United Kingdom, this is now the most high-profile case in a series of espionage scandals in recent years that involved suspected or confirmed Chinese intelligence-gathering in its establishment, including in Parliament.
WHAT IS THE UNITED FRONT WORK DEPARTMENT?
Described as a “magic weapon” by Mao Zedong, the founder of The People’s Republic of China, the current president of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) is China’s leader Xi Jinping.
Though it deals in the world of shadows, the work of the United Front is decades-old and well-documented, and has often shown up in spy scandals around the world with countries accusing Beijing of using them for foreign interference. Like this time with Tengbo in Britain, Beijing has always denied all espionage allegations calling them ludicrous.
In 2022, the director of MI5, Britain’s domestic intelligence, described the aims of the UFWD as buying and exerting influence, amplifying pro-China voices and silencing those critical of the Chinese government’s authority.
According to a report published by The Week, it has its origins in the Soviet and its work is inspired by the Leninist theory of “uniting with lesser enemies to defeat greater ones”. The United Front’s first incarnation came about in the 1920s, to attempt to join and subvert the then-ruling Nationalist government, the Kuomintang.
China, which has always had ambitions of gaining a deep state-like influence, has been able to achieve it through United Front work in recent decades. Back home, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been highly successful in neutralising large-scale or open political opposition.
“Influence” is the main game of UFWD, be it local or at an international level. According to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), it is tasked with carrying out such activities locally and abroad. While it mainly deals with political threats domestically, its operations focus on the successful push of the Chinese agenda and interests in the global arena when it comes to overseas missions.
(With agency inputs)
- Location :
London, United Kingdom (UK)
