"Ministers are pushing ahead with their reset of relations with China, including several planned high-level visits before the end of the year, despite the furore triggered by the collapse of a high-profile espionage trial. Plans have been drawn up for Jonathan Powell, the national security adviser, to travel to Beijing in November for talks before an anticipated trip by Keir Starmer next year. Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, and Patrick Vallance, the science minister, are also expected to travel to China on government business before the end of the year. The government could yet decide to pull or postpone Powell's November trip after he was dragged into the controversy surrounding the abandonment of charges against two men accused of spying for Beijing."
"The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) unexpectedly pulled the charges against Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry, a teacher, last month. The CPS argued that the government had not provided sufficient evidence that China represented a threat to the national security of the UK. Starmer published the three witness statements submitted by a deputy national security adviser, Matthew Collins, to prosecutors on Wednesday after accusations he had interfered with the trial to protect the UK's trading relationship with China."
Ministers are pursuing a reset of relations with China with several high-level visits planned before year-end despite fallout from a collapsed espionage trial. Jonathan Powell is provisionally scheduled to travel to Beijing in November, ahead of an anticipated Keir Starmer visit next year. Bridget Phillipson and Patrick Vallance are also expected to travel to China before the end of the year. The government may still pull or postpone Powell's trip after he was linked to the abandonment of charges. The Crown Prosecution Service withdrew charges against two men, saying there was insufficient evidence that China posed a UK national security threat. Starmer published three witness statements from deputy national security adviser Matthew Collins amid accusations of trial interference, and the prime minister rejected claims that Powell shaped the evidence.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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