China is the greatest threat to UK's security, says GCHQ intelligence chief

London/Beijing: – Jeremy Fleming, the Chief of British Intelligence, warned that China is the biggest threat to the security of the United Kingdom. At this time, he also accused that China is launching a large number of cyberattacks on British hospitals and universities. The relations between the United Kingdom and China have been strained since the last few months over Coronavirus and many other issues, and the United Kingdom has started adopting an aggressive stand against China. The warning from the Intelligence Chief is a part of the same mindset.

Fleming, the Chief of British intelligence agency GCHQ, pointed to the Chinese threat during a program organised by a think tank in the United Kingdom. Fleming said that the United Kingdom is consistently facing newer challenges on the cybersecurity and other fronts. At this time, he informed that there are a large number of cyberattacks on the British hospitals and universities, against the background of the Coronavirus pandemic. He accused that Chinese hackers are behind the attacks. Fleming also claimed that the Chinese hackers are taking advantage of the uncertainty created in the United Kingdom following Brexit, along with the Coronavirus pandemic.

After this, while speaking about the challenges and threats after Brexit, the GCHQ Chief warned that China is the biggest threat to British security. While issuing the warning, he indicated that the cooperation between the United Kingdom and the European Union, over the security issue, will not change and will become more substantial and more comprehensive. Senior military officials endorsed the warning issued by the intelligence chief. General Sir Patrick Sanders, Chief of the British Strategic Command, warned that the Chinese threat to British security is very intense.

Major moves had been initiated in the year 2010 to make the UK-China relations more vital and more comprehensive. Political leaders and even the analysts had claimed that the Golden Era of UK-China relations had started with the signing of the big trade and investments agreements between the United Kingdom and China. But the ties have gone sour in the last year, and the United Kingdom has adopted an aggressive stand against China. The United Kingdom has taken an open stand against China and has taken critical decisions on the issues of Coronavirus pandemic, activities in the South China Sea, new law in Hong Kong, Uyghur people and 5G technology. China is agitated because of the British stand and has started accusing the United Kingdom of imperialistic mindset. China is also issuing threats that the United Kingdom will have to face dire consequences for these decisions taken against China. But British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has refused to change the British stand and has indicated to make the anti-China stand more comprehensive. Only a few days ago, a leading British think tank had advised the Johnson government to draw-up a policy for the Indo-Pacific sector and openly challenged the Chinese domination.