"The Guardian reported in the spring that instead of targeting China as a whole, ministers were considering including specific parts of the Chinese political system that have been accused of interference in the west on the enhanced tier. Such entities include China's Ministry of State Security, which is its intelligence service, the Chinese Communist party (CCP), the United Front Work Department, which is often referred to as the international arm of the CCP, and the People's Liberation Army, which is China's military."
"Only Russia and Iran have been included on the enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme (Firs), which was introduced in July and came fully into force this month. Firs requires anyone in the UK acting for a foreign power or entity to declare their activities to the government or face criminal sanctions. The enhanced tier covers countries and entities deemed a particular risk and requires extra disclosures."
Chinese officials warned the Foreign Office that targeting parts of China's security apparatus under foreign influence rules would have negative consequences for relations. Ministers have so far refused to apply the enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme to China or lobbyists acting for China; only Russia and Iran are currently on that tier. FIRS requires anyone in the UK acting for a foreign power to declare activities, with enhanced-tier actors subject to extra disclosures and criminal penalties. Considered Chinese entities for the enhanced tier included the Ministry of State Security, the CCP, the United Front Work Department and the PLA. Ministers face pressure over rapprochement with Beijing and questions after the collapse of a trial of two Britons accused of spying.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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