China has been conducting a years-long espionage campaign targeting the mobile phones of senior officials in Downing Street,raising serious questions about the security of government communications. The covert operation, which reportedly spanned from 2021 to 2024, aimed to access the devices of close aides to former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak.
Espionage Campaign Raises Concerns About Compromised Communications
the complex operation potentially exposed private communications to Beijing, prompting fears of compromised national security.
- Chinese intelligence services are suspected of targeting the mobile phones of key figures within the British government.
- The operation, codenamed Salt Typhoon, is reportedly ongoing, raising concerns for current officials, including Keir Starmer.
- The timing of the alleged hacking coincides with increased warnings from MI5 regarding escalating state-sponsored threats.
- A previous espionage case involving parliamentary researchers highlighted Beijing’s interest in gathering details on top UK politicians.
Earlier in 2024, the National Cyber Security Center cautioned that China had been targeting critical sectors, including government, since 2021. The NCSC warned that stolen data could enable Chinese intelligence services to “identify and track targets’ communications and movements worldwide.”
Sir keir Starmer leaves for China this week, the first visit by a British prime minister as 2018
Last year, a separate China spy case collapsed when prosecutors revealed that Beijing had specifically requested reports on Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak, and Liz Truss. The case involved parliamentary researcher Chris Cash,30,and teacher Chris Berry,33,who were accused of passing sensitive information,but the charges were dropped when government advisors declined to designate Beijing as a national security threat.
Chinese spies are understood to have targeted the phones of close aides to former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak
alicia kearns, shadow minister for national security, questioned the government’s response, stating, “How much more evidence does this government need before it ends its simpering to Xi?”
In 2024, the U.S. disclosed that hacking groups linked to Beijing had infiltrated telecommunications companies globally, potentially granting China access to the phone data of millions. Anne Neuberger, then a deputy U.S. national security advisor, stated that the hackers possessed the capability to “record phone calls at will.”
The Telegraph reported numerous hacking attempts on Downing Street staff phones, particularly during Rishi Sunak’s premiership (2022-2024), though it remains uncertain whether any sensitive information was successfully obtained.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy responded, “We firmly oppose the practice of politicising cybersecurity issues or accusing other countries without evidence.”
