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Chinese ‘spy’ live updates: Agent linked to Prince Andrew named as MP warns Yang Tengbo ‘was not a lone wolf’

A judge has lifted an anonymity order for alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo who was linked to Prince Andrew

Alexander Butler,Jabed Ahmed,Holly Evans
Tuesday 17 December 2024 03:10 GMT
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An alleged Chinese spy banned from the UK and linked to the Duke of York can now be named as Yang Tengbo, a High Court judge has ruled.

The 50-year-old director of a Chinese investment consultancy firm was barred from the UK in 2023 after it was deemed he would likely threaten national security.

A High Court judge has now lifted an anonymity order so he can now be identified.

The suspect 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.

Former Conservative leader Sir Ian Duncan Smit told the House of Commons Tengbo “was not a lone wolf”.

“He was one of some 40,000 members of the United Works Department, which the intelligence security committee report last year said and I quote ‘are known to government, had penetrated every sector of the UK economy, spying, stealing intellectual property, influencing and shaping our institutions,” he said.

Security minister Dan Jarvis said the government will not hesitate to use “every tool at our disposal” to keep the UK safe.

Inside the court room as alleged Chinese spy is named

In a short court hearing that lasted less than 30 minutes, a judge ruled that an order preventing the identity of businessman Yang Tengbo from being reported should be lifted.

Previously only known as H6, Mr Tengbo is facing allegations of being a Chinese spy who had ingratiated himself with senior Establishment figures, including Prince Andrew.

Given that he has been banned from entering the UK, the only people present at the hearing were his legal team, headed by Guy Vassall-Adams KC, a barrister for the Home Office and another lawyer for the media.

Around 15 journalists from a number of different publications were also present, after the identity of Tengbo and his relationship to the Duke of York dominated headlines over the weekend.

Holly Evans, at the Royal Courts of Justice16 December 2024 14:41

Yang Tengbo issues statement denying spying allegations

Yang Tengbo, the alleged Chinese spy banned from the UK and linked to the Duke of York, said he has “done nothing wrong or unlawful”, adding in a statement that the “widespread description of me as a ‘spy’ is entirely untrue”.

“Due to the high level of speculation and misreporting in the media and elsewhere, I have asked my legal team to disclose my identity,” the statement said.

“I have done nothing wrong or unlawful and the concerns raised by the Home Office against me are ill-founded. The widespread description of me as a ‘spy’ is entirely untrue.

“This is why I applied for a review of the Home Office decision in the first place, and why I am seeking permission to appeal the SIAC decision. It is also why an order extending my anonymity up to the point of determination of the appeal process was granted.

“I have been excluded from seeing most of the evidence that was used against me under a process which is widely acknowledged by SIAC practitioners as inherently unfair: decisions are made based on secret evidence and closed proceedings, which has been described as “taking blind shots at a hidden target”.

“On their own fact finding, even the three judges in this case concluded that there was ‘not an abundance of evidence’ against me, their decision was ‘finely balanced’, and there could be an ‘innocent explanation’ for my activities. This has not been reported in the media.

“The political climate has changed, and unfortunately, I have fallen victim to this. When relations are good, and Chinese investment is sought, I am welcome in the UK. When relations sour, an anti-China stance is taken, and I am excluded.

“I am an independent self-made entrepreneur and I have always aimed to foster partnerships and build bridges between East and West. I have dedicated my professional life in the UK to building links between British and Chinese businesses. My activities have played a part in bringing hundreds of millions of pounds of investment into the UK.

“I built my private life in the UK over two decades and love the country as my second home. I would never do anything to harm the interests of the UK.”

Jabed Ahmed16 December 2024 14:27

Full report: ‘Chinese spy’ at heart of Prince Andrew scandal named

‘Chinese spy’ at heart of Prince Andrew scandal named

Yang Tengbo allegedly acted as Prince Andrew’s close confidant who acted on his behalf for business deals

Jabed Ahmed16 December 2024 14:22

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