An investigation by Newsweek identifies hundreds of groups in Britain tied to the Chinese Communist Party. Many work to deepen Beijing's influence worldwide.
shows Li and others posing in their dresses with business people and local and national politicians wearing kilts or military uniform—including a member of the House of Lords. Li did not respond to requests for comment.
That confederation's chairman, Li Luoan, has been appointed adviser to a front organization in China: the Shenzhen Overseas Exchange Association, official records show. A man answering his telephone number said"hello" in Chinese but hung up when asked a question. Subsequent calls rang unanswered or went straight to voice mail.
Nearly one-third—139—have registered with Companies House, Britain's official business registry. All the groups were identified byvia extensive Chinese-language research of publicly available government documents, state media accounts, and on-the-ground reporting. Many of the groups describe activities that are benign, such as promoting Chinese business ties and helping Chinese citizens abroad. But veteran British diplomat Charles Parton said their activities go beyond that—including acting as a 'front radar' to gather information.
"However, these 'police service stations' were established without our permission and their presence, regardless of whatever low-level administrative activity they were performing, will have worried and intimidated those who have left China and sought safety and freedom here in the U.K. This is unacceptable," he said in a recent statement to parliament.
In April this year, Zhang was appointed as a U.K.-based"overseas mediator" assisting courts in southern Hainan province resolve cases involving people from China in the U.K., according to state media reports and a photograph of the appointment ceremony. The appointments are made by a committee comprising the Hainan High People's Court and the United Front, according to Chinese-language state media reports.
Some organizations highlight the high-level contacts they have built in Britain, often with photos of meetings with prominent British politicians, among them former prime ministersAmong those most concerned about United Front operations in Britain are the Hong Kongers who have fled from China's increasingly iron grip.
Church leaders said they were"mindful of the wider impact" on a church community of"many nationalities". The organizers alleged pressure from China. Asked whether it had played a role, a church spokesperson initially promised comment but then stopped responding to requests.Many were suspicious of a newly founded Hong Kong People Association in leafy Ealing in west London that offered to help them find jobs, healthcare and education.
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