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A British parliamentary staffer was arrested in March on suspicion of spying for China. China denies the allegations.
British authorities confirmed the arrest of two people suspected of spying for China, one of whom is said to have worked as a researcher in the British parliament.
A statement released by London's Metropolitan Police said they were arrested in March under the UK's Official Secrets Act, a law related to the protection of state secrets. The police announced that "checks were also carried out at the residences of the suspects as well as at a third address in east London", the statement says.
The suspects deny the charges of espionage
The identities of the suspects have not been officially announced and they have not yet been charged. Both people have been released on bail until October.
China's espionage poses a strong strategic challenge to Britain Photo: Andy Wong/AP Photo/picture alliance
The parliamentary researcher has responded to the charges through his lawyers, claiming he is "completely innocent".
The British Parliament announced that the matter is being addressed and that security authorities are looking into suspicions of espionage.
Tense bilateral relations
In a statement from its embassy in the UK, China has dismissed claims that it has carried out espionage, calling them "completely fabricated and malicious slander".
The allegations come at a time when UK-China relations are already strained due to disagreements over issues such as security, investment and human rights.
The British government has criticized China's crackdown on civil rights and liberties in Hong Kong and has pushed Chinese companies out of strategic sectors such as nuclear power and the 5G mobile phone network.
The British Secret Service has warned that the activities of the Chinese government and espionage from China constitute "the strongest strategic challenge for the United Kingdom"./DW
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