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A CHINESE BUSINESSMAN who was barred from the UK in recent days for allegedly spying for the Chinese government has been named as businessman Yang Tengbo.
Yang Tengbo, previously known by the codename H6, is described as having had an “unusual degree of trust” with Britain’s Prince Andrew and is reported to have met several recent British prime ministers.
Yang, who strongly denies allegations that he is a spy, lost an appeal last week over a decision to bar him from entering the UK on national security grounds.
In the ruling on Thursday, judges assessed that Yang was in a position to “generate relationships between senior Chinese officials and prominent UK figures which could be leveraged for political interference purposes by the Chinese State”.
Here’s everything that is known about the alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo.
Yang’s identity was revealed this afternoon following a High Court ruling in London.
The 50-year-old, who also used the name Christopher Yang, had previously remained anonymous under a High Court order.
Yang’s lawyers originally appealed to have his anonymity maintained, but agreed to the order being lifted today. An MP for the Reform Party had said he would use parliamentary privilege to identify Yang if the courts did not do so.
The businessman was born in Yunnan, southwest China. He graduated with a history degree from a local university before spending seven years working for a “national government agency”.
Yang moved to the UK in 2002, later founding Hampton Group in London in 2005, an investment consultant group which “acts as a bridge between companies in China and the rest of the world“.
The businessman was granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK in 2012 and split his time between China and the UK.
Yang was first excluded from Britain by then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman in 2023, when the UK Home Office said he was believed to have carried out “covert and deceptive activity” for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Judges were told that in a briefing for the home secretary in July 2023, officials claimed Yang had been in a position to generate relationships between prominent UK figures and senior Chinese officials “that could be leveraged for political interference purposes”.
He later brought legal action for a review of the decision at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), arguing that it was unlawful. The tribunal in London heard that he had said he avoided involvement in politics and had only limited links to the Chinese state.
His representative told the tribunal he had never been a senior member of the CCP and had not carried out activities on its behalf.
Despite these claims from Yang and his representative, his appeal at the SIAC was dismissed on Thursday.
The businessman had visited the UK regularly, attending events at a series of royal residences, including Andrew’s birthday party at his home.
The SIAC hearing heard Yang was barred because he was believed to be associated with China’s United Front Work Department, which seeks to gather intelligence on influential overseas nationals. The ruling said in his witness statement Yang had “downplayed his links” with the group.
Yang has met two former prime ministers over the past 15 years, according to the Sunday Times – David Cameron at a Downing Street reception and Theresa May at a black-tie event.
The businessman allegedly used so-called “elite capture” tactics to target senior figures in the British establishment.
It is not known precisely when the Yang first met Andrew, the disgraced son of Queen Elizabeth II, but a statement released by Andrew said the pair met through “official channels”.
At a hearing in July, the SIAC appeal tribunal heard that the prince’s aide told the suspected spy that he could help in potential dealings with Chinese investors.
According to court documents, the businessman was so close to Andrew that he was authorised to act on his behalf in an international financial initiative with potential partners and investors in China.
Yang also received an invitation to Andrew’s 60th birthday party in 2020.
Yang is believed to have visited Buckingham Palace twice, and also entered St James’s Palace and Windsor Castle at the invitation of Andrew.
A letter from Andrew’s aide, Dominic Hampshire, was discovered on Yang’s mobile devices when he was stopped at a port in 2021. The letter stated: “Outside of his closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.”
Yang was also appointed by Prince Andrew as the head of the Chinese arm of his Dragons’ Den-style entrepreneur business Pitch@Palace, the Times have reported.
Andrew invited Yang, described in the court circular as the founder-partner of Pitch@Palace China, to an evening meeting at Buckingham Palace in June 2018. Four days later, Yang was back at the palace to meet Andrew with Wang Bingnan, China’s vice-minister of commerce.
In a statement on Friday, a spokesperson from Prince Andrew’s office said that Andrew had “followed advice from His Majesty’s Government and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised”.
“The Duke met the individual through official channels with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed.
“He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security,” the spokesperson said.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer admitted he was “concerned about the challenge that China poses” after the alleged spy was able to form links at the heart of the British establishment.
Speaking during a visit to Norway, Starmer would not comment on any conversations he may have had with the royal family over the H6 case but added that the government “are concerned about the challenge that China poses.”
Former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith described the situation as “the tip of the iceberg”.
“The reality is that there are many, many more involved in exactly this kind of espionage that’s taking place,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“The reality for us is very simple – China is a very clear threat.”
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Good luck to everyone taking part.
@ciaran o dowd: they deserve a medal, true warriors each and everyone of them
Friendliest marathon in the world. Get out and cheer them on if you can. It means a lot and you’ll help someone’s day tremendously
@Paul Conlon: On what scale do you rate friendliest? I ran and completed this marathon 10 years ago, it was non eventful, a good tough run but very empty support after Phoenix Park and I would not rate it as friendly. Best marathon I have run was Budapest, electric vibes all the way.
@Paul Conlon: bit of a generalisation there in fairness, I thought London one was very welcoming & positive but Berlin one, for me, was the best experience…. But that’s just my twopenceworth
@Phose: I can hear the constant cheers from my house.
@Phose: no way. They hate foreigners in Budapest. Not friendly.
@Buster Lawless: but the people in Budapest are foreigners.
@Pewpew Tin: What a disgusting comment.
@Pewpew Tin: Lovely, Stephen: showing yet again what a lowlife you are.
@Brendan O’Brien: chutes, what is with you calling every poster different names?? Get a life
@Frank Mc Carthy: Not every poster: just you, Stephen.
@Brendan O’Brien: so, though my name has been Frank for over half a century, some troll on a comments section decides on Steven & the gag, the funny thing is???? Seriously, for someone who posts from two of his mothers accounts???
@Frank Mc Carthy: Your name is not Frank Mc Carthy or Pewpew Tin or Buster Lawless or Kevvy kerrr or any of the other names you currently use here.
@Frank Mc Carthy: Incidentally, ‘McCarthy’ doesn’t have a space in it.
@Brendan O’Brien: ah, sure it doesn’t…… not only a super troll, but a DELUDED Super troll
@Pewpew Tin: You seem kind of rattled, Stephen.
@Pewpew Tin: seriously, ease up on brenny, I think he’s losing it … lastest one is calling everyone, even female poster, Steven….. some kind of message from his ma
@Pewpew Tin: Stephen your world would crumble if your IDs (and any new ones) were deleted from this site. It must be your only outlet. You’re a sad little man.
@Pewpew Tin: ill get you banned chutes, you wait
@Pewpew Tin:
You win the Interweb today
@Buster Lawless: nah. Just the likes of yourself.
How will you know if someone has run a marathon?
They’ll tell you within 5 seconds of meeting them ….. :-)
@Ruth: like vegans so??
@Frank Mc Carthy:wow aren’t you all a bunch of funny see you next Tuesdays. So original
@Simon Gregory: ye vegans need to grab a sence of humour, lol
@Ruth: How do you know someone is miserable….they tell you on the journal comments section.
@Ruth: Whereas the size of your a** will tell us that you abhor any form of physical exercise.
@Frank Mc Carthy: You need to grab a spelling app, young lad.
@Mike: think we can say ass Mike.
Indeedy, but you’ll never get close enough to say for sure nor measure :-)
run along there now (no big ass pun intended) hahahaha
@Frank Mc Carthy: There’s nothing wrong with being vegan . Vegans don’t eat the corpses of defenceless creatures who have been murdered in slaughter-houses or elsewhere .
@Jim Ryan: Welcome to the food chain Jim. By your definition of murder, murder is one of the defining characteristic of all life.
@Ruth: At least I can run a few paces without getting out of breath. As if I’d want to get close to your massive girth, get a grip… although you’d need a crane at this stage. Seriously, stop slagging fit people and try getting in shape. You will feel better about yourself!!!!!
@Mike: Seriously Michael. Get up to bed and don’t come down again ’til Monday.
@Louis Jacob: No upstairs in my gaff, pal.
@Frank Mc Carthy: I’m a vegan and don’t go around telling everyone……..oh wait
@Jim Ryan: you do realise that these animals would never had been born if we weren’t going to eat them at some point .
Maybe worry a bit more about the people who are actually being murdered around the globe and the fact that you are not helping climate change because forests are being chopped down for your oat milk,palm oil etc ,and next time you buy a avocado have a look at heritage came from ,cause they don’t grow them in Cavan:)
@Louis Jacob: How would you like to be farmed or fished or hunted for your meat ? Not one little bit I’d bet .
@Mike: AHH body shaming now Mike?
Why don’t you pop down the gym and record yourself so you can massage that fragile ego
@Mike: Or as the joke goes:
Doc. “ You’re obese”
Patient. “ Obesity runs in our family”
Doc. “ Nobody runs in your family, you fat c u next Tuesday ”!
@Jim Ryan: Sorry Mike. That has nothing to do with it. There’s a bird in the Arizona desert that only eats it’s food alive but only eats a small amount at a time, so it catches lizard and skewers them alive on cactus plants so they can eat them later. I wouldn’t like to be that lizard either.
Nature man.
Most wild bison die as a result of old age, which ge really means being physically unable to migrate out of cold areas at which point they freeze to half death before being torn apart by and animals.
I would like that either.
I could go on.
@Ruth: Lol so true!! I can hardly make it up the stairs!!
@sean weir: that’s the same argument slave owners used against abolitionists. As for the environmental impact, meat production is about 20 times more harmful to the environment even when you take air miles, destruction of habitat etc into consideration for crops. That part of your argument has been debunked, but you probably know that.
@Dermot Blaine: Your a analogy would make a ton of sense if the slaves were animals and we were using them for food.
@Dermot Blaine: Your analogy would make a ton of sense if the slaves were animals and we were using them for food.
@sean weir: You sound like a livestock farmer . Or at least an apologist for them .
@sean weir: I’m in the gym at least 4 times a week, you sap. You should try it sometime. The original poster began the thread by slagging people, take your personal frustrations out on her, dkhead.
@Lulu: lolololololol
@Louis Jacob: punctuation, man. By the way, wtfk are you on about, you absolute clim?
@Mike: Stop crying Mike. “I’m at the gym 4 times a week” lol. What a fooleen.
@J B: Watch it. He’s well able to dish it out, but my God, he’s as precious. The gym won’t help that unfortunately. Is, my function: ok, for you?: Michaeleen.
@Louis Jacob: I am just replying, you unintelligent failure of a human. Reread the comments and if you have two brain cells, you will realise how wrong you are. If you can’t observe your own failings, you are not worth the few seconds it takes to reply to you. Btw, I’m willing to bet you’ve never worked out in your sad excuse for a life. Stick to slagging off vegans and avocado aficionados, you insignificant little mistake. Thank you for the laugh though, I find your feebleness hilarious.
@J B: Hopefully The journal doesn’t start checking grammar, punctuation, spelling and basic iq levels…. You’d be fkd, you dozey cnt.
@Mike: Soooo precious. And you seemed like such a tough guy earlier.
@Louis Jacob: Why, do you like tough guys? I bet you spend a few quid on knee pads, eh Louise?
@J B: Have you seen her/him doing the pole vault? It’s worth a google ; )
@Mike: That sounded so much smarter in your head.
@Mike: lay of the steroids man, you’re in the full on angry about everything phase. Take that needle out of your bum. Good man.
@Louis Jacob: You never sound smart, in your head or otherwise. You’re a sad little dope and I would genuinely feel sorry for you if you weren’t such an unintelligent little mess.
@Eoin Jackson: If you like things in your bum, that’s your business. I won’t judge you while you’re getting pounded.
@Mike: you need to stop pounding the roids and the powder.
@Mike: you’re a bit of a bungalow yourself.
@Eoin Jackson: I’ve never taken a steroid in my life. You are just unable to hold conversation with a man of intellect. I don’t however blame you, most “men” are weak as fk these days. It’s not too late for you though, kid. Find good friends… have real conversations… become the best version of you in this life. You can do it if you really want to make the most of this life! Best of luck!
The usual suspects will be on in a while to complain about all the foreigners running wild through the streets of Dublin, closing down roads, wrecking the local economy, can’t they use the bike lanes etc…
@FoxyBoiiYT: You’re the first one mentioning “foreigners” on an article about the Dublin City Marathon. Lord, what a sad existence you must be slogging through day after day.
@FoxyBoiiYT: A usual suspect complaining about others complaining!
Another rant: why does the official map mention 26 “mile markers”? Do we not use kilometres in Ireland, like most of the world?
It’s nearly 20 years since we switched (will be next spring), but it seems Irish Life and other institutions still have not figured it out… (shakes head in disbelief)
@Jerry LeFrog: 100%!
@Jerry LeFrog: running is measured in miles. Simples.
@Fiona Wyse: huh?
@Kevin Kerr: maybe she meant marathons are measured in miles, which they are traditionally?
@Dermot Blaine: and in the non-mile-measuring world (i.e. outside UK, US, Liberia and Myanmar), are they also measured in miles? I don’t think so.
42.195 km is the distance for a marathon.
@Jerry LeFrog: this latest answer was mostly to Fiona, not Dermot.
@Fiona Wyse: no it isn’t. It’s universally measured in kms and metres.
I did it last year, got nothing but homophobic slurs, never again
@Jock Doyle: were you running in drag or something? I don’t understand this.
@Brennie’s Mammy: He was wearin yer ma’s pink last nih, ye don’t hear him complainin
@Jock Doyle: Jesus WTF Jack?! Ignorance is all it is… don’t let the B@st@rD$ get you down x
@Jock Doyle: Sounds like a made up story.
@Jock Doyle: qweear
@Donna Fallon: the country is going backwards Donna. All the weirdos have been empowered by Trump, Vance and Musk etc.
@Sal Paradise: made up?! Maybe someone wore a rainbow band or a badge well over 3/4 million people voted no in 2015. It is not, rather far from impossible that he was jeered at.
@S Suilleabhain: Those out supporting the marathon are not generally of that ilk from my personal experience. Plenty of runners from the likes of Dublin Front Runners and only cheers as they run past. Find it hard to believe this lad only faced abuse as he ran around.
Save the children from israeli terrorists
Such a well organized event – hats off to everyone involved. Big shout out to the people of Dublin who were fantastic from start to finish – cheering, shouting support and giving out sweets!! Thank you all.
Lovely to see it come back to the Northside
@RIP: too dangerous there, not good for tourists
Where are the unfair advantage comments? If they were trans there would be uproar.
@Leinsterprincess: If yer aunty had bollocks, she’d be yer uncle. Wtfk are you on about, you clim?
have your say