The Story Why questions remain about the collapsed China spying case
Oct 16, 2025
Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor of the Sunday Times and the journalist who broke the China spy case story, dives into the complexities of the case's sudden collapse. She discusses the blame game between the Government and the Crown Prosecution Service, questioning whether economic priorities influenced decisions. Wheeler shares insights on the roles of key players like Jonathan Powell and Matthew Collins, and examines how the case raises broader concerns about national security and media dynamics. A riveting exploration of politics, espionage, and accountability!
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High-Profile Espionage Allegations
- Two parliamentary researchers, Chris Cash and Christopher Berry, were charged under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly passing sensitive information to senior Chinese officials.
- The full details remain unclear because the CPS later dropped charges, citing evidential problems after earlier saying there was sufficient evidence.
Reporter Tracks Missing Researcher
- Caroline Wheeler traced Chris Cash after a tip and found his online presence had vanished and employers couldn't contact him.
- That disappearance helped break the story that led to the arrests and coverage.
Missing Government Evidence Cited
- The CPS said charges collapsed because requested government evidence was not provided over many months.
- That missing material was framed as necessary to show China posed a national security threat.