<p>Prime Minister <strong>Keir Starmer</strong> has announced he will publish the <strong>witness statements</strong> submitted by Britain&rsquo;s <strong>Deputy National Security Adviser</strong> in a long-controversial China spy case, aiming to defuse criticism over the collapse of the prosecution. <a alt="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-pm-starmer-says-he-will-publish-key-witness-statements-china-spy-case-2025-10-15/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-pm-starmer-says-he-will-publish-key-witness-statements-china-spy-case-2025-10-15/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Reuters</a></p>

<h3>Background</h3>

<p>In March 2023, <strong>Christopher Cash</strong> and <strong>Christopher Berry</strong> were charged under the <strong>Official Secrets Act (1911)</strong> with allegedly sharing sensitive information with a Chinese intelligence agent. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) unexpectedly dropped the charges in September 2025, citing that key evidence linking China to a national security threat was lacking &mdash; evidence that was expected from government witness statements. <a alt="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/what-is-britains-china-spying-case-about-2025-10-15/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/what-is-britains-china-spying-case-about-2025-10-15/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Reuters+2Reuters+2</a></p>

<p>The fallout led to accusations that the government intervened or withheld crucial material. Critics argued that failure to formally designate China as a threat prevented sufficient evidence from being used. <a alt="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/15/china-spy-row-key-witness-statement-to-be-published-says-starmer?utm_source=chatgpt.com" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/15/china-spy-row-key-witness-statement-to-be-published-says-starmer?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Guardian+2Financial Times+2</a></p>

<h3>Starmer&rsquo;s Pledge</h3>

<p>During his address in Parliament, Starmer stated that the statements were produced <strong>without political interference from ministers or special advisers</strong> and that publishing them is necessary to restore trust. He denied any alteration of the documents and blamed past administrations for failing to classify China as an adversarial threat. <a alt="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-pm-starmer-says-he-will-publish-key-witness-statements-china-spy-case-2025-10-15/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-pm-starmer-says-he-will-publish-key-witness-statements-china-spy-case-2025-10-15/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Reuters</a></p>

<p>He characterized the collapse of the case as a consequence of previous policy &mdash; namely, that the prior Conservative government had not adopted a sufficiently firm legal stance on China&rsquo;s security threat. <a alt="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-pm-starmer-says-he-will-publish-key-witness-statements-china-spy-case-2025-10-15/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-pm-starmer-says-he-will-publish-key-witness-statements-china-spy-case-2025-10-15/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Reuters+2Reuters+2</a></p>

<h3>Political Reaction &amp; Opposition Response</h3>

<p>Opposition leader <strong>Kemi Badenoch</strong> criticized Starmer&rsquo;s handling, accusing him of shifting blame and failing to hold the government to account. She argued that the government should clarify its own decisions rather than focusing on prior actions. <a alt="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-pm-starmer-says-he-will-publish-key-witness-statements-china-spy-case-2025-10-15/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-pm-starmer-says-he-will-publish-key-witness-statements-china-spy-case-2025-10-15/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Reuters</a></p>

<p>Legal and parliamentary committees are now expected to scrutinize the released documents. The CPS has reportedly no objection to their publication now that the case is closed. <a alt="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/15/china-spy-row-key-witness-statement-to-be-published-says-starmer?utm_source=chatgpt.com" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/15/china-spy-row-key-witness-statement-to-be-published-says-starmer?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Guardian+1</a></p>

<h3>Key Issues Raised</h3>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>Whether government inaction or policy ambiguity prevented a satisfactory espionage prosecution</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Whether the witness statements implicate institutional deliberations or political strategy</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>The balance between national security secrecy and public accountability</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>The broader diplomatic implications for UK-China relations, especially as the UK pursues &ldquo;positive engagement&rdquo; even while acknowledging espionage threats. <a alt="https://www.ft.com/content/b58fff7f-65ed-470c-bcbd-9371f4b78bf3?utm_source=chatgpt.com" href="https://www.ft.com/content/b58fff7f-65ed-470c-bcbd-9371f4b78bf3?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Financial Times+1</a></p>
	</li>
</ul>