UK summons Chinese envoy over 'foreign interference'

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The British Foreign Office summoned the Chinese ambassador to London on Tuesday following allegations of foreign interference.

“The FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) was unequivocal in setting out that the recent pattern of behaviour directed by China against the UK, including cyberattacks, reports of espionage links and the issuing of bounties is not acceptable,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson noted that the summons followed Monday’s announcement that three people have been charged with offenses under the National Security Act as part of an investigation led by officers from the Met Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.

The statement added that the foreign intelligence service to which the charges relate is that of the "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region."

In March, Britain also summoned Chinese charge d'affaires over "malicious cyber activity."