Yang Tengbo: Who is alleged Chinese spy linked to Prince Andrew?

Yang Tengbo at a gathering of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing.

Yang Tengbo, commonly referred to as Chris Yang, is a 50-year-old Chinese entrepreneur who was prohibited from entering the UK last year due to concerns about national security, linked to his connections with Prince Andrew.

UK officials have claimed that he is a Chinese spy who established an "unusual level of trust" with the Duke of York and developed connections with various politicians. In response, Prince Andrew stated that he has "cut off all communication" with Yang and that they did not discuss anything sensitive.

He was previously known as H6, but a court order that protected his identity was removed on Monday. Yang has stated that he is not a spy and that the media's portrayal of him in that way is "completely false."

"Because of the extensive rumors and inaccuracies in the media and other places, I've instructed my legal team to reveal my identity," the statement said. "I have not engaged in any wrongdoing or illegal activities, and the issues brought up by the Home Office regarding me are unfounded."

Yang, who lived in the UK for over 20 years and had the right to reside there, challenged the government's decision to bar him from the country last year. He claimed that the abrupt revocation of his residency was both illegal and unjust.

A Special Immigration Appeals Tribunal confirmed the ban last week, stating in its ruling that there was enough evidence to indicate he poses a threat to national security. Several details about him have emerged from that case.

Insights Into Yang's Life And Career

Yang was born in China in 1974. He attended university there and later spent several years working as an entry-level government employee.

In 2002, he arrived in the UK, where he spent a year studying language in London before pursuing a master’s degree in public policy at the University of York.

He explained to the tribunal that he initially planned to go back to China to pursue his career in the public sector. However, he began to notice possibilities for connecting China and the UK.

In 2005, he established a business that offered travel and tourism services called Hampton Group International. Yang is still recorded as the director of this company.

On May 21, 2013, he was given permanent residency in the UK. He informed the tribunal that he has balanced his time fairly equally between the UK and China, and before the Covid pandemic, he typically spent about two weeks a month in the UK.

He described the UK as his "second home," he revealed to the tribunal.

UK Authorities: What Actions Have They Taken?

On November 6, 2021, Yang was halted at the UK border due to counter-terrorism regulations for reasons that were not revealed. He was instructed to hand over his phone and other electronic devices.

In February 2022, he initiated a lawsuit to prevent the UK government from keeping his data. Initially, he succeeded, but later lost the case when it was appealed.

Throughout the legal dispute, he learned for the first time that UK officials suspected he had ties to the United Front Work Department (UFWD). This covert division of the Chinese government is responsible for managing its cultural influence initiatives abroad and has been connected to various incidents of suspected Chinese state interference in other countries.

In mid-February 2023, Yang was removed from a flight heading to London after returning from Beijing. At that time, he was informed that UK officials were considering preventing him from entering the country.

On March 9, 2023, Yang's attorneys requested that the government reveal the reasons and allegations behind their decision. They also sought a chance for Yang to present his arguments before any conclusions were reached.

Six days later, Home Secretary Suella Braverman made the decision to revoke Yang's residency rights and prohibited him from entering the UK, claiming it was necessary for the welfare of the public.

Yang received notification of this decision in a letter dated March 23, 2023. In April, he initiated legal action contesting the ban, arguing that the decision was both illegal and unjust in its process.

What Evidence Was Presented Against Yang?

The authorities have depended on the information collected from Yang's electronic devices during the border check in 2021.

It contained paperwork that UK officials claimed showed a connection between Yang, the UFWD, and various other organizations associated with Beijing.

UK officials claimed that Yang had at times intentionally hidden his connections to the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party, and the United Front Work Department (UFWD).

The Home Office indicated that letters and documents discovered in his possession implied he was often in contact with individuals linked to the Chinese government. They also claimed that there was a misleading aspect to the way he had portrayed his associations.

They noted that Yang held an honorary membership in the 48 Group Club, which is based in London and focuses on fostering trade relations between the UK and China. This group has been around for 70 years and has included prominent figures such as former Prime Minister Tony Blair and other high-ranking UK officials.

Security officials expressed concerns that Yang's affiliation with the club, which includes several notable individuals from the UK, could be exploited by China for political influence.

In a weekend statement addressing the US-backed Radio Free Asia media outlet, the 48 Group Club clarified that Yang was never directly engaged in the management of the organization.

The judges of the tribunal noted that some pieces of evidence might be defensible in an innocent light. However, they concluded that there was enough information to support MI5's assessment that Yang represented a threat to national security, although they acknowledged that it was a carefully weighed decision.

What Is Yang's Connection To Prince Andrew?

The documents revealed that Yang had obtained a letter from Dominic Hampshire, a top adviser to Prince Andrew. In the letter, Hampshire affirmed that Yang was authorized to represent the prince in meetings with possible partners and investors in China.

Mr. Hampshire wrote to Yang, saying, "Apart from the prince's most trusted advisors, you are at the pinnacle of a hierarchy that numerous individuals aspire to be part of."

It's uncertain whether Mr. Hampshire genuinely made this claim, as he hasn't made any public comments since being mentioned in the decision.

However, the Home Office interpreted this as proof that Yang had the ability to "forge connections between notable individuals in the UK and high-ranking Chinese officials," which could potentially be used by Beijing for political meddling.

A document outlining the key discussion topics for a call with Prince Andrew was discovered as well.

It emphasized the need to keep expectations in check. It's crucial not to have overly high hopes, as he is in a tough spot and will cling to anything that comes his way.

The judges contended that Yang had minimized the significance of his connections to the UFWD, stating that this, along with his association with the Duke, posed a risk to national security.

Prince Andrew stated that he "ended all communication" with Yang following guidance from the government, although he did not indicate when this cut-off occurred.

In an announcement, his office mentioned that the prince interacted with Yang "via official means" and that "no sensitive topics were ever brought up."

What Did Yang Say?

Yang has firmly rejected the claims made against him. In his initial appeal to the tribunal regarding his suspension, he stated that he stayed away from political matters and had no ties to any political figures in China.

In later statements, he mentioned that his connections to the Chinese government were minimal and that interacting with the United Front Work Department is something that cannot be avoided.

Yang stated that he has never been a part of the Chinese Communist Party and has never engaged in any activities representing it for the United Front Work Department (UFWD). He expressed that the prohibition has negatively impacted both his personal life and his business.

The Chinese embassy in the UK has refuted the accusations of espionage, stating that "certain people in the UK frequently try to invent unfounded 'spy' allegations against China."

On Friday, a representative from the embassy stated, "Their intention is to tarnish China's reputation and interfere with the regular interactions between Chinese and British individuals."