Politique

8 octobre 2025

Résumé

Le procès de deux Britanniques accusés d'espionnage pour la Chine a été interrompu après que le gouvernement britannique a refusé de désigner la Chine comme une menace pour la sécurité nationale.

Le procès de Christopher Cash et Christopher Berry, deux ressortissants britanniques accusés d'espionnage pour la Chine, a été abandonné après que le gouvernement britannique a refusé de classer la Chine comme une menace pour la sécurité nationale.

Le directeur des poursuites publiques, Stephen Parkinson, a déclaré que l'affaire ne pouvait pas se poursuivre car aucun responsable gouvernemental n'était disposé à témoigner que la Chine représentait une menace au moment des infractions présumées.

Les accusations, déposées en avril 2024, alléguent qu'entre la fin de 2021 et février 2023, les prévenus ont fourni des informations pouvant être « utiles à un ennemi » et « préjudiciables à la sécurité ou aux intérêts » du Royaume-Uni.

La députée conservatrice Alicia Kearns, qui a précédemment travaillé avec Cash, a demandé de la transparence concernant l'effondrement de l'affaire, déclarant : « Le gouvernement doit dire la vérité. Qui est responsable de l'abandon des poursuites ? »

Les deux prévenus nient toute faute, et l'ambassade de Chine a rejeté les accusations comme étant une « calomnie malveillante ».

En vertu de la loi sur les secrets officiels, les procureurs devaient démontrer que les prévenus agissaient pour le compte d'un « ennemi ». Bien que les services de renseignement britanniques aient renforcé leurs mises en garde concernant les activités de Pékin, le gouvernement a qualifié la Chine de « défi stratégique » plutôt que de « menace ».

Le Premier ministre Keir Starmer a expliqué que le gouvernement ne pouvait pas fournir le témoignage requis car, au moment des infractions présumées, l'administration précédente n'avait pas désigné la Chine comme une menace.

Les critiques soutiennent que la décision d'abandonner l'affaire a été influencée par le désir de maintenir les relations commerciales avec la Chine. Luke de Pulford, directeur exécutif de l'Alliance interparlementaire sur la Chine, a commenté : « C'est un exemple clair de responsables britanniques sacrifiant notre sécurité nationale. »

Source

AP News

Premièrement rapporté ici

Procès d'espionnage au Royaume-Uni abandonné faute de preuves qualifiant la Chine de menace

8 octobre 2025 • BBC

Vérification des faits

Vérifiez les faits de l'article en utilisant des sources et des bases de données externes.

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Confirmed

The trial of Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, two British nationals accused of espionage for China, was discontinued after the UK government declined to classify China as a national security threat.

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Confirmed

Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson stated that the case could not proceed because no government official was willing to testify that China posed a threat at the time of the alleged offenses.

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Confirmed

The charges, filed in April 2024, alleged that between late 2021 and February 2023, the defendants provided information that could be 'useful to an enemy' and 'prejudicial to the safety or interests' of the UK.

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Confirmed

Conservative lawmaker Alicia Kearns, who previously worked with Cash, called for transparency regarding the case's collapse, stating, 'The government must come clean. Who is responsible for spiking the prosecution?'

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Confirmed

Both defendants deny any wrongdoing, and the Chinese Embassy dismissed the allegations as 'malicious slander.'

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Confirmed

Under the Official Secrets Act, prosecutors needed to demonstrate that the defendants acted for an 'enemy.' While British intelligence has increased warnings about Beijing's activities, the government has referred to China as a 'strategic challenge' rather than a 'threat.'

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Confirmed

Prime Minister Keir Starmer explained that the government couldn't provide the required testimony because, at the time of the alleged offenses, the previous administration had not designated China as a threat.

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Confirmed

Critics argue that the decision to drop the case was influenced by a desire to maintain trade relations with China. Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, commented, 'This is a clear example of U.K. officials trading away our national security.'

Procès d'espionnage au Royaume-Uni abandonné en raison de la position du gouvernement sur la Chine

Source

Premièrement rapporté ici

Procès d'espionnage au Royaume-Uni abandonné faute de preuves qualifiant la Chine de menace

Vérification des faits

The trial of Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, two British nationals accused of espionage for China, was discontinued after the UK government declined to classify China as a national security threat.

Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson stated that the case could not proceed because no government official was willing to testify that China posed a threat at the time of the alleged offenses.

The charges, filed in April 2024, alleged that between late 2021 and February 2023, the defendants provided information that could be 'useful to an enemy' and 'prejudicial to the safety or interests' of the UK.

Conservative lawmaker Alicia Kearns, who previously worked with Cash, called for transparency regarding the case's collapse, stating, 'The government must come clean. Who is responsible for spiking the prosecution?'

Both defendants deny any wrongdoing, and the Chinese Embassy dismissed the allegations as 'malicious slander.'

Under the Official Secrets Act, prosecutors needed to demonstrate that the defendants acted for an 'enemy.' While British intelligence has increased warnings about Beijing's activities, the government has referred to China as a 'strategic challenge' rather than a 'threat.'

Prime Minister Keir Starmer explained that the government couldn't provide the required testimony because, at the time of the alleged offenses, the previous administration had not designated China as a threat.

Critics argue that the decision to drop the case was influenced by a desire to maintain trade relations with China. Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, commented, 'This is a clear example of U.K. officials trading away our national security.'

Continuez à lire — gratuitement

Continuez à lire — gratuitement

Source

Premièrement rapporté ici

Procès d'espionnage au Royaume-Uni abandonné faute de preuves qualifiant la Chine de menace

Vérification des faits

The trial of Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, two British nationals accused of espionage for China, was discontinued after the UK government declined to classify China as a national security threat.

Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson stated that the case could not proceed because no government official was willing to testify that China posed a threat at the time of the alleged offenses.

The charges, filed in April 2024, alleged that between late 2021 and February 2023, the defendants provided information that could be 'useful to an enemy' and 'prejudicial to the safety or interests' of the UK.

Conservative lawmaker Alicia Kearns, who previously worked with Cash, called for transparency regarding the case's collapse, stating, 'The government must come clean. Who is responsible for spiking the prosecution?'

Both defendants deny any wrongdoing, and the Chinese Embassy dismissed the allegations as 'malicious slander.'

Under the Official Secrets Act, prosecutors needed to demonstrate that the defendants acted for an 'enemy.' While British intelligence has increased warnings about Beijing's activities, the government has referred to China as a 'strategic challenge' rather than a 'threat.'

Prime Minister Keir Starmer explained that the government couldn't provide the required testimony because, at the time of the alleged offenses, the previous administration had not designated China as a threat.

Critics argue that the decision to drop the case was influenced by a desire to maintain trade relations with China. Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, commented, 'This is a clear example of U.K. officials trading away our national security.'

Continuez à lire — gratuitement

Continuez à lire — gratuitement

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