Prince Andrew claims he ‘ceased all contact’ with accused Chinese spy

Prince Andrew claims he 'ceased all contact' with accused Chinese spy

Prince Andrew announced that he had “ceased all contact” with a businessman, allegedly a Chinese spy, following guidance from government officials.

In a recent statement, the office of Prince Andrew clarified that he had encountered the individual “through official channels.” It emphasized that “nothing of a sensitive nature was ever discussed” during their interactions.

A judgment from the UK’s semi-secret national security court has resulted in banning the alleged spy from the country.

In court proceedings, the individual referred to as H6 was characterized as a “close confidant” of Prince Andrew, having established an “unusual degree of trust” with the duke.

In 2023, H6 filed an appeal against his initial ban; however, the court upheld the original decision.

Judges were informed that the businessman sought to exploit Prince Andrew’s influence.

The duke’s office stated that he was “unable to comment further on matters relating to national security.”

The statement lacked details regarding the timeline of his contact with the individual and the length of their interactions.

Buckingham Palace has not commented, clarifying that they do not represent the prince, who is not engaged in royal duties.

The Chinese embassy in the United Kingdom has refuted allegations of espionage, asserting that “certain individuals in the UK are consistently inclined to concoct unfounded ‘spy’ narratives aimed at China.”

A spokesperson for the embassy stated, “Their purpose is to smear China and disrupt normal exchanges between Chinese and British personnel.”

In March 2023, Suella Braverman, who previously held the position of home secretary, implemented a ban on H6 from entering the UK.

He subsequently presented his case to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission, a judicial body established to review appeals concerning decisions to prohibit or expel individuals from the country based on national security or similar considerations.

The judges have affirmed Braverman’s decision in their published ruling.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that H6 was invited to Prince Andrew’s birthday celebration in 2020 and was informed he could represent the prince in discussions with prospective investors in China.

The circumstances surrounding H6’s relationship with the prince remain ambiguous. However, in November 2021, law enforcement officials halted and interrogated him at the UK border, exercising their authority to probe into suspicions of “hostile activity” linked to a foreign state.

At that stop, H6 relinquished several electronic devices, including a mobile phone.

The officers’ findings raised significant concerns for the security service MI5, prompting Braverman to exercise her exceptional powers to ban H6 from entering the country.

A letter discovered on one of his devices reveals that Dominic Hampshire, an adviser to Prince Andrew, communicated to H6: “Outside of [the prince’s] closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.”

Mr. Hampshire stated, “With your assistance, we successfully facilitated the discreet entry and exit of the relevant individuals at the residence in Windsor.”

The excerpt from the letter in the ruling does not provide additional information regarding the identities of the “relevant people.”

Mr. Hampshire has also stated to H6 that he is prepared to represent Prince Andrew in discussions “with potential partners and investors in China.”

A document outlining the key discussion points for a call with Prince Andrew has been discovered.

The message emphasizes the need to “Manage expectations.” It is crucial to avoid establishing excessively high expectations, as he finds himself in a dire situation and will likely cling to any opportunity.

The court determined that this indicated H6 could establish connections between high-ranking Chinese officials and notable figures in the UK, which could be exploited for political interference by the Chinese State.

The judges remarked that H6 had garnered an “unusual degree of trust from a senior member of the Royal Family willing to engage in business activities with him.”

Sources indicated that the relationship evolved when the prince faced “considerable pressure,” a situation that “could render him susceptible to the exploitation of such influence.”

The prince encountered mounting criticism beginning in late 2019 regarding his association with the late US financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. His notorious Newsnight interview in November of that year further exacerbated this situation.

In November 2019, he stepped back from his royal duties, and since then, the prince has faced persistent scrutiny regarding his judgment and financial matters.

Concerns emerged regarding the prince’s financial dealings following a settlement, reportedly amounting to millions, in a civil sexual assault lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre, who is among the accusers of Jeffrey Epstein. The prince has consistently refuted allegations of assault against Ms. Giuffre.

Isabel Hilton, the editor at China Dialogue, informed BBC News that Chinese state agents generally focus on targeting “members of the House of Lords or prominent business people, or individuals who hold influence in the community.”

She remarked that it was “quite ambitious” to aim at a royal and “quite unwise for a member of the Royal Family to permit himself to be targeted.”

Security officials expressed concerns that Beijing might be orchestrating an “elite capture” strategy to sway the Duke of York, given the significant pressures he faced. This approach seeks to place prominent figures within Chinese enterprises, think tanks, or academic institutions.

H6 was later notified that UK authorities suspected him of having ties to the United Front Work Department (UFWD), a division of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) responsible for executing influence operations.

A recent ruling highlighted concerns MI5 Director General Ken McCallum raised regarding the threats to the UK stemming from political interference by China. He noted that organizations like the UFWD are engaged in “patient, well-funded, deceptive campaigns to buy and exert influence.”

The Home Office expressed concerns that H6 was involved in covert and deceptive activities linked to the CCP, suggesting that his association with Prince Andrew might be a tool for political interference.

Suella Braverman has advocated for H6 to be stripped of his anonymity, stating in an interview with The Daily Telegraph that “disclosing the identity of this person will have a deterrent effect.”

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