MI5 Spy Alert: China's LinkedIn Plot Exposed

Key Highlights:

• Urgent Alert: MI5 has issued a critical espionage warning to UK Members of Parliament (MPs) and peers.
• Spies Named: The security agency identified two individuals, Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen, as being linked to China's intelligence services.
• LinkedIn as a Weapon: The pair are allegedly using the professional networking site LinkedIn to target and recruit individuals with access to sensitive information.
• Broad Targeting: The espionage campaign is not just aimed at politicians but also at economists, civil servants, and thinktank staff to gain insider knowledge.

UK Parliament on High Alert Over Chinese Espionage

Britain's domestic intelligence agency, MI5, has issued a stark warning to Parliament, naming two individuals believed to be working for the Chinese state to infiltrate UK political circles. The alert, sent to the speakers of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, details a sophisticated operation using the professional networking platform LinkedIn to gather intelligence.

The Espionage Campaign Uncovered

According to the MI5 alert, Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen are actively targeting parliamentarians and other influential figures in the UK. Operating under the guise of professional headhunters, they use LinkedIn to establish contact and build relationships. MI5 stated that their goal is to "obtain non-public and insider insights" by recruiting individuals with privileged access.

In an email relaying the warning, Lord McFall, the Lord Speaker, informed peers that the individuals are linked to China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) spy agency. He emphasized their aim is to "collect information and lay the groundwork for long-term relationships, using professional networking sites, recruitment agents and consultants acting on their behalf."

Who Are the Alleged Agents?

MI5 provided details on the two individuals at the center of the alert:

Amanda Qiu

Her LinkedIn profile lists her as the chief executive of BR-YR Executive Search, a role she has supposedly held for over six years in Beijing. Her professional interests curiously include the UK’s Department for Transport and the Tony Blair Institute, indicating a clear focus on British institutions.

Shirly Shen

Based in Hangzhou, Shirly Shen is described as the co-founder of InternshipUnion. Her profile, written in English, portrays her as a "positive Asia girl" and claims to have helped hundreds of students find internships in China, a potential pipeline for identifying and cultivating future assets.

Government Condemns "Covert and Calculated" Threat

The government has officially acknowledged the threat. In a statement to the House of Commons, Security Minister Dan Jarvis confirmed the MI5 alert had been circulated.

"This activity involves a covert and calculated attempt by a foreign power to interfere with our sovereign affairs in favour of its own interests, and this government will not tolerate it," Jarvis told MPs. He added that the espionage campaign was being run by a group of Chinese intelligence officers who often hide behind "cover companies or external headhunters."

This is not the first time MI5 has warned of such tactics. The agency has previously highlighted China's use of LinkedIn to try and lure at least 10,000 Britons in sensitive sectors with lucrative job offers, demonstrating a persistent and large-scale intelligence-gathering effort. The Chinese embassy has been approached for comment.