Sir Keir Starmer admitted he was “concerned about the challenge that China poses” after an alleged spy was able to form links at the heart of the British establishment.
The suspect, known only as H6, is said to have become a “close” confidant of the Duke of York and has also been pictured with senior politicians including Lord David Cameron and Baroness Theresa May.
The Prime Minister defended his approach of engaging with Xi Jinping’s government despite concerns over security and human rights abuses, but a senior Tory claimed the UK was now viewed as the “soft underbelly” of a key intelligence alliance because of Sir Keir’s approach to China.
Speaking during a visit to Norway, Sir Keir would not comment on any conversations he may have had with the royal family over the H6 case.
But he said: “Of course we are concerned about the challenge that China poses.”
In November Sir Keir became the first British prime minister since 2018 to meet the Chinese president.
Sir Keir said: “Our approach is one of engagement, of co-operating where we need to co-operate, particularly on issues like climate change, to challenge where we must and where we should, particularly on issues like human rights and to compete when it comes to trade.
“That’s the strategic approach that we have set out as a UK Government. “