Chief Prosecutor Blames UK Government for UK China Spy Trial Collapse

Advanced | October 15, 2025

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A Trial Collapses Before It Starts: UK China Spy Trial Collapse

In September 2025, prosecutors dropped charges against Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry, an academic, who were accused of spying for China between late 2021 and early 2023. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Stephen Parkinson, said the case collapsed because the UK government failed to provide a witness statement saying that China was a national security threat at the time. (reuters.com)

Parkinson publicly blamed the government for the failure, saying prosecutors had “done everything possible” but couldn’t move forward without that key statement. (theepochtimes.com) The story quickly became known as the UK China spy trial collapse in British media.

Why the UK China Spy Trial Collapse Matters

Under the Official Secrets Act (a law from 1911), a prosecution must show that the documents or information passed could be “useful to an enemy.” The law was recently clarified in court to require proof that such a country must be a current national security threat. (reuters.com)

Parkinson said that over many months, prosecutors tried to get the government to explicitly state in witness testimony that, during the period of the alleged offences, China posed exactly that kind of threat. But no official was willing to say it. So, he concluded, “the case could not proceed.” (apnews.com) This lack of cooperation led to the UK China spy trial collapse, drawing criticism from both sides of Parliament.

Government and Opposition Trade Blame

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose Labour government is in power now, responded that the collapse was not his doing. He said the Conservative government, which held office during 2021–2023, never formally designated China as a “threat” — only as a “strategic challenge” or “epoch-defining challenge.” (reuters.com)

Opposition Conservatives, however, accused the current administration of deliberately undermining the prosecution to avoid diplomatic damage with China. They argue that evidence already existed showing Beijing’s espionage and security risks. (theguardian.com)

Legal Experts Weigh In

Some former prosecutors and legal analysts have questioned Parkinson’s rationale. They say China was already regarded by the UK intelligence community (e.g. MI5/MI6) as a threat, and that the CPS may have over‑interpreted the legal bar it set for witness statements. (theguardian.com)

Still, others believe the government was reluctant to make such a strong claim in public testimony, fearing it would expose sensitive intelligence or compromise diplomatic ties. (reuters.com)

What Happens Next

In response to rising pressure, Prime Minister Starmer said he plans to publish the full witness statements that were withheld, including those by Matthew Collins, the deputy national security adviser. (reuters.com)

Both political parties and the public will be watching closely. The case raises serious questions about how espionage laws are applied today — especially when state security, legal standards, and international relations collide.

Vocabulary (Advanced)

Espionage (noun) – spying to obtain secret government or industry information.
E.g. “The trial concerned alleged espionage for China.”
Prosecutor (noun) – a government lawyer who brings charges in a criminal case.
E.g. “The chief prosecutor blamed the government for the collapse.”
Witness statement (noun) – a written or spoken account given under oath by someone with knowledge.
E.g. “Prosecutors insisted on a witness statement naming China a threat.”
Threshold (noun) – the level or point at which something begins or becomes significant.
E.g. “They couldn’t pass the legal threshold without the statement.”
Designation (noun) – an official naming or classification.
E.g. “The prior government refused to give the designation ‘enemy’.”
Diplomatic (adjective) – related to relations between nations.
E.g. “Concerns arose over the diplomatic impact with China.”
Ambiguous (adjective) – unclear or having more than one meaning.
E.g. “The policy language was ambiguous regarding China’s status.”
Expose (verb) – to make something known, especially something hidden.
E.g. “Publishing the documents could expose intelligence methods.”
Reluctant (adjective) – unwilling or hesitant.
E.g. “Officials were reluctant to call China a threat publicly.”
Collide (verb) – to come into conflict or clash.
E.g. “Security concerns and diplomacy often collide in cases like this.”

Discussion Questions (About the Article)

Why did the trial collapse, according to Stephen Parkinson?
How did the Official Secrets Act requirement change after recent legal clarifications?
What is Keir Starmer’s explanation, and how does it differ from the opposition’s view?
What are the risks of publishing the witness statements now?
In your view, which side seems more accountable for the collapse — the prosecutors or the government?

Discussion Questions (About the Topic)

Should governments ever refuse to provide evidence for national security reasons? Why or why not?
How can laws written long ago (like the 1911 Official Secrets Act) be updated for modern geopolitical realities?
What balance should a country strike between transparency and protecting intelligence secrets?
How might diplomatic or trade considerations influence prosecutions against foreign espionage?
In your country, do you think spies and intelligence cases have strong legal safeguards or risks of political interference?

Related Idiom

“Walk a fine line” – to handle a situation carefully, between two difficult positions.
In this case: The government must “walk a fine line” between protecting national security and avoiding diplomatic fallout by how strongly it depicts China’s threat.

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This article was inspired by The Epoch Times (theepochtimes.com) and supplemented with context from Reuters, AP News, The Guardian, and legal analyses.