In the United Kingdom, a Chinese businessman beleived to be a “close confidant” of the Duke of York Prince Andrew has lost an appeal over a decision to bar him from entering the country on national security grounds. It is said that the Chinese national, who is being called "H6" by British espinage and media circles, was working for Beijing’s "United Front Work Department", a wing reportedly tasked with establishing ties with influential people across the globe. H6 is believed to be one of the 40,000+ United Front Work Department operatives working across the world.
According to media reports, British security agencies found out that H6 had been in a position to generate relationships between prominent UK figures and senior Chinese officials. He intended to exploit his contacts as leverage "for political interference purposes". Last week, the businessman lost his appeal against the ban on his entry to the UK. The judges observed that he was "not candid" about his links to the Chinese Communist party, The Guardian said in a report.
Who is 'Chinese spy' H6?
H6, a middle-aged Chinese gentleman, reportedly had photographs of his meetings with David Cameron and Theresa May on his desk. This was not a seen lightly by the the British officials as it was not just Prince Andrew with whom H6 was close. In 2021, H6 was stopped at the UK border by a police team who confiscated his mobile phone and other gadgets. He was invited to Andrew's birthday party in 2020, officials found out. In fact, the duo were so close that H6 was told by an adviser to Prince Andrew that he could act on the Duke’s behalf when dealing with potential investors in China, The Guardian said in a report.
H6 is now the subject of an interim anonymity order, an order which may be lifted soon. Meanwhile, some British MPs want the Chinese national to be named in the House of Commons under parliamentary privilege as it is a matter of national interest.
What is Prince Andrew's position?
However, the Duke of York maintains that he “ceased all contact” with the businessman accused of being a Chinese spy after receiving advice from the government. “The Duke of York followed advice from His Majesty’s government and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised. The duke met the individual through official channels with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed. He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security,” his statement read on Friday.
