Battle Lines Nuclear secrets leak or paranoia? Why Xi really purged China’s top general
Jan 30, 2026
Oriana Schuyler-Mastro, a China military specialist from Stanford, explains the purge of PLA leadership. Rozina Sabur, national security editor, recounts state-linked hacking and espionage targeting UK officials. Gareth Corfield, investigative reporter, reveals unredacted embassy plans and surveillance risks. They discuss leaked nuclear claims, loyalty purges, embassy spying, burner-device tactics and wider UK-China security tensions.
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Security Took A Back Seat To Trade
- Keir Starmer's Beijing trip prioritized economic deals like visas and tariff cuts over public security concerns.
- Reporters and officials used burner phones, VPNs and strict electrical hygiene to guard against Chinese surveillance.
Burner Devices And Honey-Trap Warnings
- Journalists and officials used burner phones and laptops on the China trip to avoid being snooped on.
- Ben Riley-Smith described warnings about honey traps and lost devices from past visits.
Espionage Targets Everyday Information
- Chinese espionage targets both high-value secrets and mundane Westminster gossip.
- Rozina Sabur says Beijing treats all information as intelligence, not distinguishing between secret and public material.
