China has hit back at British lawmakers and media following allegations that a Chinese national with close ties to Prince Andrew was involved in espionage activities. The Chinese Embassy in London dismissed the claims as a "smear campaign" aimed at undermining relations between the two nations, while the accused individual, Yang Tengbo, continues to deny any wrongdoing.
Yang Tengbo, a 50-year-old Chinese businessman, was barred from entering the United Kingdom in 2023 after being deemed a national security risk. Court documents revealed last week describe Yang as a "close confidant" of Prince Andrew, King Charles III's brother, and detail his access to high-profile events and business dealings.
"As for the anti-China clamors made by a handful of U.K. MPs, they have done nothing but fully revealed their twisted mentality towards China, as well as their arrogance and shamelessness," a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy said in a statement. The embassy accused British lawmakers of attempting to "demonize" China and "undermine normal personnel exchanges."
Yang, who moved to the U.K. in 2002 to study at the University of York, has maintained his innocence, rejecting accusations that he acted as a spy for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In a public statement, Yang asserted, "I have done nothing wrong or unlawful and the concerns raised by the Home Office against me are ill-founded." He criticized the proceedings against him as unfair, claiming, "I have been excluded from seeing most of the evidence that was used against me ... decisions are made based on secret evidence and closed proceedings."
The allegations surfaced as part of a broader security review into Chinese influence in the U.K. In 2021, Yang was detained under the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act, during which authorities reportedly uncovered correspondence linking him to the United Front Work Department (UFWD), a CCP-affiliated group accused of conducting overseas influence operations. The U.K. Home Office cited this connection as grounds for his exclusion.
Yang's ties to Prince Andrew have amplified the scandal. Court documents claim Yang was permitted to represent the Duke of York in business negotiations with Chinese investors, earning invitations to receptions at Buckingham Palace and events with former British Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May. Photographs of Yang with both leaders over the past 15 years have also surfaced, fueling scrutiny of his influence.
Former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith, a vocal critic of Beijing, used the case to highlight what he views as pervasive Chinese interference in British affairs.
"The reality is that there are many, many more involved in exactly this kind of espionage that's taking place," Duncan Smith said. "China is a very clear threat."
The Chinese Embassy rejected these claims, insisting that the United Front Work Department is a legitimate outreach body.
"The United Front led by the CPC endeavors to bring together various political parties and people from all walks of life ... to promote cooperation ... and people-to-people exchanges and friendship with other countries," the embassy stated. "Though some U.K. politicians attempted to demonize China's United Front work, they are doomed to fail."
The diplomatic row comes as U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government works to repair years of strained relations with Beijing. A government audit of U.K.-China relations, due for release next year, is expected to address issues of security and influence. Starmer's spokesperson reaffirmed that national security remains a priority, saying, "We will always take an approach to these things that is rooted in the national interest and puts national security and public safety first."
Meanwhile, Yang continues to appeal the Home Office's decision barring him from the U.K. He maintains that his work has focused solely on fostering business ties between China and the U.K., emphasizing his contributions to attracting "hundreds of millions of pounds of investment" into Britain.
"I am an independent self-made entrepreneur ... and I have always aimed to foster partnerships and build bridges between East and West," Yang said. "When relations are good, and Chinese investment is sought, I am welcome in the U.K. When relations sour, an anti-China stance is taken, and I am excluded."
