The prime minister is expected to make his own trip to the country, perhaps as soon as early next year. In September a case involving two men - including a former parliamentary researcher - who were accused of spying for China collapsed in controversial circumstances. Prosecutors said the case was dropped because they could not get evidence from the government referring to China as a national security threat. However, ministers insisted they were frustrated it collapsed and blamed the position of the previous Conservative government, as well as out-of-date national security legislation. Earlier this week MI5 issued an alert to MPs and peers, warning they faced a significant risk of spying from the Chinese state.
