TORY MPs: WE NOW MUST LABEL CHINA 'A THREAT TO BRITAIN'

This state-backed attack on Britain's democracy must not go unpunished

- Michael Knowles

REVELATIONS China is behind "malicious" attacks on our democracy mean the country must now be labelled a "threat", insists Sir Iain Duncan Smith.

The former Conservative leader declared critics of China would not be "bullied into silence" after it was confirmed Beijing was responsible for two major cyber attacks.

Sir Iain hit out after MPs were told China was responsible for hacking a "treasure trove" of personal data from 40 million voters in an attack on the Electoral Commission.

China was also blamed for targeting 43 politicians who had previously criticised the country's human rights record.

Sir Iain compared the West's approach towards Beijing to 1930s appeasement of Nazi Germany.

Britain has been "too passive" towards China's overseas influence and has "turned a blind eye" to its malign activities, he said.

Sir Iain, who has been sanctioned by Beijing, said: "Together with other Members of Parliament, activists and dissidents, we have been subjected to harassment, impersonation and attempted hacking from China for some time.

"Neither we, nor other parliamentary colleagues, will be bullied into silence by Beijing.

"For years the behaviour of the Chinese government has gone unchecked. We have been too passive as Beijing's overseas influence operations have rapidly expanded, turning a blind eye to what the intelligence and security committee termed penetration of 'every sector of the UK economy'.

"We need to be much stronger and tougher. The lesson we learnt from the 1930s, appeasement never works if you are strong, and you tell them what is wrong and you tell them you are not going to put up with it, then eventually they will probably back down.

"But if you don't, they just keep taking advantage of you and that is our biggest problem."