Alleged Chinese Spy Linked to Prince Andrew Identified as Yang Tengbo

Yang Tengbo has been identified as the individual described as an alleged Chinese spy, with whom a High Court judge determined the Duke of York had established an “unusual degree of trust.” Previously, an anonymity order safeguarded his identity, referring to him solely as H6; however, a High Court judge authorized his identification on Monday. Mr. Yang stated that the characterization of him as a spy was “entirely untrue,” explaining that he instructed his legal representatives to disclose his name because of “speculation and misreporting.” In a statement released through his lawyers, he asserted, “I have done nothing wrong or unlawful and the concerns raised by the Home Office against me are ill-founded.” The UK’s semi-secret national security court affirmed a 2023 prohibition on his entry into the country last week. The businessman, also identified as Chris Yang, had lodged an appeal against this ruling with the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac). Nevertheless, the court determined that the ban should persist due to suspicions of his involvement in an “elite capture” operation, a strategy employed by the Chinese state to wield influence in western countries. The precise nature of Mr. Yang’s association with Prince Andrew remains undefined. Testimony presented in court indicated that he received an invitation to the prince’s birthday celebration in 2020 and was informed he could represent the prince in interactions with prospective investors in China. In November 2021, UK border police officers intercepted and questioned the alleged spy, utilizing authorities granted to probe suspicions of “hostile activity” by a foreign government. A letter discovered on one of his seized devices quoted a Prince Andrew advisor informing Mr. Yang: “Under your guidance, we found a way to get the relevant people unnoticed in and out of the house in Windsor.” Royal sources informed the BBC on Monday that Prince Andrew would not participate in Royal Family Christmas festivities this year, and was anticipated to recuse himself from all family gatherings throughout the year to prevent creating a distraction. The prince issued a statement last week, asserting that he had “ceased all contact” with the Chinese businessman, and that any meetings had occurred “through official channels” where “nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed.” Buckingham Palace chose not to comment at that time, explaining that they do not represent the prince, who is not a working royal. Following the disclosure of his name on Monday, Mr. Yang declared himself a casualty of the “political climate.” His statement read: “When relations are good, and Chinese investment is sought, I am welcome in the UK. When relations sour, an anti-China stance is taken, and I am excluded.” He claimed to have devoted his professional career in the UK “to building links between British and Chinese businesses,” and to have contributed to attracting “hundreds of millions of pounds” in investment to the nation. “I built my private life in the UK over two decades and love the country as my second home. I would never do anything to harm the interests of the UK,” he added. Guy Vassall-Adams KC, Mr. Yang’s lawyer, indicated that his client intends to continue pursuing an appeal against his banning order. By 2020, he operated a firm that provided “advising and consulting” services to UK businesses regarding their operations in China. The judgment disclosed his honorary membership in the 48 Group Club, a London-based organization comprising notable British leaders and politicians dedicated to fostering trade between the UK and China. Security officials had contended that Mr. Yang’s affiliation with the club, “which has a number of prominent UK figures as members,” could be exploited by China for objectives related to political interference. The 48 Group Club, in a weekend statement to the US-funded Radio Free Asia media group, asserted that H6 had no operational involvement with the group’s activities, holding only honorary membership. Mr. Yang has encountered numerous senior figures in the UK, among them former Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May, as well as Prince Andrew, for whom he was characterized as a “close confidant.” On Monday, a former Conservative leader cautioned that the individual identified as an alleged spy might represent merely the “tip of the iceberg” concerning others engaged in similar activities within the UK. Within the House of Commons, Sir Ian Duncan Smith requested that Home Office Minister Dan Jarvis provide a statement regarding the “extent of United Front Work Department operations within the UK.” The United Front Work Department, an arm of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) with which Mr. Yang is believed to have connections, is responsible for carrying out influence operations. Jarvis affirmed the UK government’s “absolute commitment” to employing the “full range of powers” at its disposal to disrupt individuals who present a threat. The minister also faced inquiries concerning the foreign influence registration scheme, which Sir Ian had previously alleged the government abandoned to avoid “upsetting” China. Jarvis stated that the scheme, which mandates foreign lobbyists to reveal specifics of their activities, is scheduled for implementation by the summer. Earlier, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer informed a press conference that the government had been developing the scheme “from day one in government” and an update would be provided “shortly.” He further noted that the government was “concerned about the challenge that China poses.” Responding to questions regarding Mr. Yang’s close connections to Prince Andrew, he added: “In relation to any discussions with Buckingham Palace, there’s a long-standing convention in the United Kingdom that that’s never spoken about.”