Background: Three witness statements released by Downing Street
The UK government published three witness statements on Wednesday night related to a high-profile espionage case that collapsed last month when charges against two men, Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, were unexpectedly dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The statements, written by Deputy National Security Adviser Matthew Collins, span December 2023 to August 2025 and were released after renewed political scrutiny and questions about the handling of the case.
Public attention has centered on how the government framed China’s activities, and on the tension between acknowledging national security threats and maintaining a positive economic relationship with Beijing.
The first statement (December 2023): Acknowledging a broad threat
In the initial statement, Collins described the Chinese Intelligence Services as “highly capable” and asserted that they conduct “large scale espionage operations against the UK and other international partners to advance the Chinese state’s interests.” He warned that such activities could harm the UK’s security, framing the issue within a wider pattern of state-led espionage aimed at advancing China’s strategic goals.
Context and implications
The assertion came as investigators weighed allegations that Berry recruited Cash to act as an intermediary for Chinese intelligence. The account provided prosecutors with a picture of the alleged network and the potential reach of Chinese intelligence operations. However, despite presenting this narrative, the case would later unravel over evidentiary issues tied to government-supplied information.
The second statement (February 2025): Balancing risk with economic ties
The February 2025 statement, produced after Labour had taken power, framed China as an “authoritarian state” with values that diverge from the UK. Collins acknowledged the challenges this poses for the UK and its allies, noting that China represents “the biggest state-based threat to the UK’s economic security.” Yet he also stressed the mutually beneficial nature of bilateral trade and investment, suggesting that the UK’s strategy depended on engaging China economically while safeguarding security and values.
Crucially, Collins stated that the government “is committed to pursuing a positive economic relationship with China.” He argued that engaging with international partners would help grow the economy, but not at the expense of national security. The statement was released amid questions over whether the CPS threshold for prosecution had been appropriately met and whether sufficient evidence had been provided by the government to sustain charges against Cash and Berry.
The third statement (August 2025): Espionage threat and democratic resilience
The August statement reiterated the assessment that China’s espionage activities threaten the UK’s “economic prosperity and resilience, and the integrity of our democratic institutions.” It also listed alleged actions attributed to Beijing, including a cyber-attack on the UK Electoral Commission between 2021 and 2023, to illustrate the level of threat perceived by UK authorities.
Despite warning about the threat, Collins again underscored the government’s intention to keep doors open for economic engagement with China. He wrote that the government must balance the risk from espionage with the benefits of trade and investment, arguing that security and values must not be compromised in pursuit of growth.
<h2: Ongoing questions and political debate
The publication of the statements arrived as the political fallout continued. Tory and Labour leaders sparred over transparency, with the opposition leader Keir Starmer pledging to publish the statements while some Conservative figures accused him of a “cover-up.” The CPS had explained the collapse of the Cash-Berry case in terms of evidential gaps, including the difficulty in obtaining certain government-provided evidence.
Cash, for his part, issued a public statement asserting that he is “completely innocent” and lamenting that a trial by media had not allowed him to present his side in daylight. He maintained that the public statements offered no full account of the case’s context.
What this means going forward
Experts say the three statements signal a continued emphasis on China as a strategic risk to the UK’s security and economy, while also reflecting a diplomatic reality: engagement with China remains a priority to support economic growth. The balance between defending democratic values and pursuing trade partnerships will likely shape UK policy as lawmakers scrutinize the handling of sensitive national security cases in the months ahead.
