China ‘spy’ linked to Prince Andrew rubbed shoulders with former PMs David Cameron and Theresa May

THE China spy linked to Prince Andrew also rubbed shoulders with British political leaders including David Cameron, Theresa May and George Osborne.

Pictures of the espionage suspect at the heart of Britain’s political establishment raised fresh questions about his activities.

The Chinese networker - who cannot be named for legal reasons - is seen with the top Tories at glitzy events in a string of snaps obtained exclusively by the Sun on Sunday.

In one he poses in black tie with a smiling Theresa May and her husband Sir Philip at a Christmas event.

Another shows him with David Cameron and his wife Samantha, while a third image shows him in a large group with George Osborne.

It is believed to be taken in 2014 when Mr Osborne was Tory Chancellor in charge of Britain's purse strings.

It came as yesterday the Telegraph reported Chinese money given to the Duke of York is being investigated by MI5 - and that the King was made aware of this prior to the story breaking on Thursday of Andrew’s links to the  spy.

Chung Ching Kwong, analyst for the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said the revelations must be a wake up call for the UK to finally get tough on Beijing.

She said: “How bad does it have to get for the Government to take action?

“We’ve been warning about Beijing’s infiltration for years, yet we are still having a ludicrous debate over whether or not China will be in the top tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

“Can we put this silly debate to bed now please? China is our biggest threat.”

Andrew is likely to have been used by  spy pal to merely “open doors” to more powerful figures, China experts told The Sun on Sunday yesterday.

The unidentified suspect - dubbed “H6” in bombshell court papers - knew the disgraced Duke of York had no direct access to valuable classified information.

But their close association would have helped him forge close ties with figures at the pinnacle of Britain’s political and business establishment.

His mission as an agent for the China’s United Front Work Department network was to act as “radar” to identify targets useful to his Communist masters.

The snaps alongside top politicians would have been an invaluable tool as H6 sought to appear well connected and credible to contacts in possession of valuable secrets.

Ex-UK diplomat and lecturer Charlie Parton who worked for 22 years on Chinese affairs said yesterday: “I doubt if Andrew actually oiled any wheels in this case but he would have been useful to the Chinese.

“Being seen to swim in the same pond as a senior member of the royal family could certainly open doors.

“The United Front might appear to be dedicated to attempting to influence policy, which is acceptable.

“But when its actions are seen to be covert, coercing and corrupting, we have a right and duty to protect ourselves.”

One of United Front agents’ key roles is to infiltrate elite groups and flag valuable assets who may eventually betray secret or sensitive information.

Mr Parton added: “United Front people move in influential circles in the hope of being able to spot someone - perhaps involved in industry or technology - who may be useful.

“The aim is for the Chinese narrative to dominate foreign media but also to collect valuable classified information where possible.

“That is where influence becomes espionage.”

Rana Mitter, Professor of US-Asia Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School said China is "certainly spying a great deal on Britain".

He said Prince Andrew’s case was "not so much about spying in the sense of trying to find out secrets, it's about trying to influence".

"Getting to know the elites of countries like Britain is a useful task not for immediate knowledge but maybe for long term development of links in society.

“It seems that's what has been going on here,"

Former Tory security minister Tom Tugendhat said: "I suspect Prince Andrew was completely oblivious to what he was doing, as he was oblivious to his friendship with Epstein and oblivious to so many other things in his life.”

The alleged spy was banned from Britain on national security grounds in 2021 - a decision confirmed and made public earlier this week.

The Chinese businessman, 50, became closer to the disgraced prince after withdrawing from public life over his links with paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein months earlier.

He was allowed to act for Andrew, 64, in talks with private investors, according to court documents.

He visited Buckingham Palace, St James’ Palace and Windsor Castle at the invitation of Prince Andrew, it has been reported.

But he was stopped at the border and barred from entering Britain in 2021 under counter terror laws.

UK authorities said he was engaged in “covert and deceptive activity” on behalf of the United Front Work Department.

He was accused of trying cosy up to leading royals and politicians as part of a strategy known as "elite capture" to wield influence on the country's leading figures.

He moved to Britain in the early 2000s, and studied at York University before setting up business here.

Glowing reports of him in China boasted that his circle of friends “includes royal nobles and business tycoons”.

Prince Andrew has known and worked with him for a decade.

The spy has also boasted of being friends with A-listers including Meryl Streep and in his spare time said he unwinds by watching The Crown and Downton Abbey.

While hobnobbing with Prince Andrew, he also was cosying up to leading British businesses and politicians including Tory royalty Mr Cameron, Mr Osborne and Mrs May.

But in 2021 he was pictured at the China Communist Party HQ in front of the red flag.

Speaking at the time, he said: "The personal destiny of each of us is closely linked to the development of the motherland.

“Every Chinese works hard and strives for his or her dream, and when put together, it is the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

A spokeswoman for Theresa May said: “Baroness May and her husband, Sir Philip, are photographed at numerous events in any given year.

"As such, she doesn’t remember when or where this particular photograph was taken or the man in question.”

Mr Cameron was leader of the Conservative Party for over a decade and is understood to have met thousands of people in his role.

Mr Osborne does not remember seeing or meeting the alleged spy, The Sun on Sunday understands.

The spy scandal plunged Britain’s relationship with China back into the spotlight.

David Cameron and George Osborne tried to launch a new “Golden Era” of relations with China - even inviting Xi Jinping for a state visit in 2015.

But Britain's relationship with Beijing has cooled, and Rishi Sunak was planning a crackdown on Chinese influence.

Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government has been accused of cosying up to China again and Rachel Reeves is visiting Beijing next month.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has already been amid claims Sir Keir has gone soft on China by dropping Tory plans for a Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS).

Meanwhile, Angela Rayner is expected to overrule council objections and give the green light to a new Chinese super embassy in central London.

If it gets the go ahead, a massive China's spy hub would be created in the heart of London’s historic city, critics say.

Iain Duncan Smith, the former leader of the Conservative Party who has been sanctioned by China for speaking out about their human rights abuses, accused Labour of being weak on China.

He said: “Labour have kicked everything we were doing on China into the long grass. It is pathetic.

“They are on bended knee to Beijing.”