United Kingdom cancels license of Chinese government news channel; 3 Chinese spies deported

London/Beijing: – The edge of the conflict between the United Kingdom and China seems to be sharpening. The United Kingdom, which announced joint war exercises with Japan, has delivered two more jolts to China. The British Media agency has cancelled the Chinese government news channel China Global Television Network (CGTN). Simultaneously, the British secret service informed that it has deported three Chinese spies, operating as journalists in the United Kingdom.

Since the last year, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the administration has started adopting an increasingly aggressive stance against China. The United Kingdom, who took the initiative for an inquiry in the Coronavirus issue, has adopted a clear anti-China stand on the issues like 5G, Hongkong, Uyghur people and activities in the South China Sea. A few days ago, the United Kingdom announced that it was joining the Pacific Trade agreement, challenging Chinese domination. The reports of deportation of spies and action against CGTN confirm that the British policy has remained the same.

It had been exposed that three journalists working in three Chinese media companies were actually working for the Chinese Ministry of State Security. British sources informed that after this, the British intelligence agency MI5 deported these three people. Only two months ago, British Intelligence Chief, Jeremy Fleming had warned that China is the biggest threat to British security. Against this background, the expulsion of three Chinese spies becomes significant. Following the action to deport the Chinese spies operating as journalists, the United Kingdom has raised the baton of action even against the Chinese government news Channel CGTN, which is a part of the Chinese government’s campaign war. British Office of Communication (OFCOM) has cancelled the license of the Chinese news channel. Star China Media had obtained the license for the Chinese government news channel. OFCOM clarified in its order that the company has no control whatsoever on the news channel and the ruling Chinese communist party is running the channel.

China is infuriated with British actions. Moreover, the Chinese foreign ministry accused the United Kingdom of politicising a technical issue. China has also warned that it will retaliate properly against British actions. China fired a salvo against the British government news channel ‘BBC’. It accused that BBC was instrumental in spreading fake news regarding Coronavirus pandemic and Uyghur people. BBC has clarified that it is firm on the information and reports broadcasted through the channel.

In 2010, The United Kingdom started major moves to make China’s relations stronger and more comprehensive. Leaders from both the countries and even analysts said that the golden era started in the UK-China relations with the major trade and investment agreements signed between the two countries. But since the last one year, the relations between the two countries have taken a different turn. Besides, the tensions between the United Kingdom and China seem to be festering.