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By Morsten Plack in Politics —

Lord Wei: An overview of UFWD engagement

This report finds consistent engagement between Lord Wei and entities controlled by, linked to or later subsumed by the United Front Work Department of the CCP Central Committee (中共中央统一战线工作部) between 2011 and 2016.

By Luke McWilliams

Update: Sunday, July 31, 2022

Lord Wei has published a comprehensive response to this report within 24 hours of its release on his personal website and we encourage readers to consider it thoughtfully.

In brief response to Lord Wei's allegations that the author received compensation to author this report, the Center for Foreign Interference Research would like to confirm that the author received no remuneration for this report and it was written at his own personal expense.
  • This report finds consistent engagement between Lord Wei and entities controlled by, linked to or later subsumed by the United Front Work Department of the CCP Central Committee (中共中央统一战线工作部) between 2011 and 2016.
  • In January 2022, The Security Service, also known as MI5, released a ‘Security Service Interference Alert’ identifying the United Front Work Department as a ‘State Threat Actor’ they went on to say:“The UFWD identifies and cultivates individuals with the goal of promoting the CCP's agenda and challenging those that do not subscribe to its policies. This activity can be both overt and covert.UFWD actors have been known to be involved in political interference activity,seeking to deceive, corrupt or coerce politicians and high profile individuals into making statements or taking action in support of the objectives of the CCP, and to silence voices which are critical of the CCP.”
  • Lord Wei’s register of interests show that:
    • On one occasion when travelling in China, the cost of internal flights to various cities in mainland China were met by Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.
    • Lord Wei received mandarin lessons provided to him by a Confucius Institute pro-bono.
  • The report also finds that Lord Wei attended a fundraising event in the UK for the construction of Red Army Primary Schools (红军小学) in China.
  • Whilst engagement with United Front bodies and even United Front Work Department officials can be un-premeditated and innocuous, Lord Wei has engaged persistently with such groups and individuals. His conduct exhibits a pattern that demands public scrutiny, not least because up until very recently Lord Wei was Chairing the Welcoming Committee for Hongkongers forum, a UK government-funded initiative to help BN(O) passport-holders from Hong Kong integrate into their new home. This community has consistently reported feeling threatened by United Front activity which is coordinated by the CCP.

Lord Wei was elevated to the House of Lords on the 3rd of June 2010. When appointed, he was only 33 years old, making him the youngest person ever appointed life peer.

Wei was appointed as David Cameron’s “Big Society” tsar responsible for that flagship policy.1 However, he resigned from this role in May 2011 and then pivoted to promoting Sino-British relations, just as the Coalition Government’s ‘golden era’ policy took shape.2

Between 2011 and 2016, Wei frequently engaged with United Front bodies and, it seems, lobbied for Chinese business. He had a close relationship with Lady Xuelin Li Bates (李雪琳), about whom much has been written.3

Below are detailed some of Lord Wei’s engagements with United Front-linked individuals and groups / UFWD officials. However, there is no claim that this is a comprehensive overview.

Lord Wei’s earliest engagement with United Front bodies can be found some 8 months after his elevation to the House of Lords. On the 30th of January, 2011, Lord Wei attended a Lunar New Year celebration jointly hosted by United Front-linked UK Zhejiang Association (英国浙江联谊会) and the ‘British Shanghai Friendship Association’ (英国上海联谊会).4 (see Figure 1). The celebration was well attended, attracting some 200 guests. Notably, the PRC Embassy's Overseas Chinese Affairs Counsellor, Zhao Kun (赵昆) was in attendance alongside Dr. Shan Sheng (单声博士), the President of the All-British Chinese and Overseas Chinese Association for the Promotion of China’s Unification (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会).5 The latter group, one of the most important United Front bodies in the United Kingdom, lobbies in favour of the CCP’s stated intent to absorb the free democracy of Taiwan within the PRC.

Figure 1: Lord Wei (front row, first from right), Chinese Embassy Counsellor for Overseas Chinese Affairs Zhao Kun (赵昆) (front row, third from right), President of the All-British Chinese and Overseas Chinese Association for the Promotion of China's Unification (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会) Dr. Shan Sheng (单声博士) (front row, fourth from right), President of the Zhejiang UK Association (英国浙江联谊会) Lady Xuelin Li Bates (李雪琳) (back row, third from right), Executive Vice-President of Zhejiang UK Association (英国浙江联谊会) Huang Ping (黄萍) (back row, second from right).

Figure 1: Lord Wei (front row, first from right), Chinese Embassy Counsellor for Overseas Chinese Affairs Zhao Kun (赵昆) (front row, third from right), President of the All-British Chinese and Overseas Chinese Association for the Promotion of China's Unification (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会) Dr. Shan Sheng (单声博士) (front row, fourth from right), President of the Zhejiang UK Association (英国浙江联谊会) Lady Xuelin Li Bates (李雪琳) (back row, third from right), Executive Vice-President of Zhejiang UK Association (英国浙江联谊会) Huang Ping (黄萍) (back row, second from right).6

On 28 March 2011, Lord Wei met with Liu Xiaoming (刘晓明), whom at the time was Ambassador of PRC to the United Kingdom7. Although not directly attributing a quote to Wei, the press release claims that “as the only Chinese member of the House of Lords in the UK, he [Lord Wei] is willing to contribute to the promotion of communication and understanding between China and Britain and between China and the West.”

The Zhejiang UK Association reports that between 1 and 18 April, 2011, Wei met with several United Front-related officials, as detailed below:

  • Lin Jun (林军) Chairman of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (中华全国归国华侨联合会)8, a peak United Front body tasked with targeting the Chinese diaspora9;
  • Xu Yousheng (许又声), Deputy Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council (国务院侨务办公室)10.
  • The Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council (国务院侨务办公室) was formerly subject to the State Council but in 2018, it was placed under the United Front Work Department of the CCP Central Committee (中共中央统一战线工作部).11 In 2018, Xu Yousheng (许又声) was appointed deputy head of the United Front Work Department (中央统战部)12;
  • Si Xinliang (斯鑫良), who was vice chair of the Zhejiang Provincial Political Consultative Conference (浙江省政协), the provincial chapter of the peak United Front forum.13
  • Wu Jing (吴晶), Chair of the Zhejiang Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (浙江侨联)14, a provincial chapter of the peak United Front body the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese tasked with targeting the Chinese diaspora15;
  • Li Peipei (李培培) Secretary General of the Zhejiang Overseas Exchange Association (浙江省海外交流协会), a provincial chapter of the Chinese Overseas Exchange Association, which was formerly administered by the Chinese Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (侨务办公) but in 2019 was merged with the China Overseas Friendship Association (中华海外联谊会), a group run by the United Front Work Department (中共中央统一战线工作部)16;
  • Jin Zhiqiang (金志强), Vice Chairman of Hangzhou Overseas Friendship Association (杭州市海外联谊会), a group run by the United Front Work Department (中共中央统一战线工作部)17;
  • Lu Jianzhong (陆建中), Chairman of Jiaxing Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (嘉兴市侨联), a provincial chapter of the peak United Front body the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese tasked with targeting the Chinese diaspora.18

Between 16 and 18 April 2011, with the help of Lady Xuelin Li Bates, Lord Wei and his wife, Lady Wei, visited Zhejiang province in China, where they met with United Front officials. Listed as present were Zhu Mingming (朱明明), Vice Chairman of the Wenzhou Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (温州市侨联), Wu Jing (吴晶), Chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (浙江侨联) (see Figure 2) as well as Chen Naike (陈乃科) and Zhang Weiren (张维仁), as well as Zhejiang Overseas Chinese Federation( 浙江侨联) officials.19

Figure 2: Lord Wei and Wu Jing (吴晶) exchange commemorative gifts.

Figure 2: Lord Wei and Wu Jing (吴晶) exchange commemorative gifts.20

The next day, on 19 April 2011, Lord Wei, again accompanied by Lady Bates, who was described as his translator, met with Lu Jianzhong (陆建中), Vice Minister of the United Front Work Department of Jiaxing Municipal Committee in Zhejiang Province (浙江省嘉兴市委统战部) and Pu Jinying (浦金英), Vice Chairman of the Jiaxing Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (嘉兴侨联).21

This meeting also corresponds with an entry on Lord Wei’s Register of Interests (see Appendix 1): Lord Wei declared a visit to various cities in mainland China, 13-19 April 2011 with the cost of internal flights being met by China Eastern Airlines.22

Notably, 9 days later, on 28 April 2011, a Ms “Xuelin Black” was declared on Lord Wei’s Register of Interests (see Appendix 1) as follows: “Ms Xuelin Black acts as a pro bono adviser to the Member on British-Chinese affairs; Ms Black is a Conservative Party donor”.23 This was Lady Bates’s former name: she only married Lord Michael Bates in 2012.

A 2014 article hosted by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Hangzhou Municipal People's Government (杭州市人民政府侨务办公) describes Lady Bates as “a senior advisor to Lord Wei Ming’en [...] she has accompanied Lord Wei on many successful visits to China to enhance mutual understanding”.24

On 31 August 2011, Lord Wei invited Lady Bates President of the Zhejiang UK Association, Chinese Embassy Counsellor for Overseas Chinese Affairs Zhao Kun (赵昆) and his wife, and Chinese Embassy Counsellor Li Feng (李锋) to the House of Lords. (See Figure 3) It was here that Zhao Kun (赵昆) encouraged Lord Wei to “visit China more and to learn more about China.”25

igure 3: Lord Wei (centre); Lady Bates (right of Lord Wei); Counsellor for Overseas Chinese Affairs Li Hui (李辉) (right of Lady Bates), Counsellor for Overseas Chinese Affairs Zhao Kun (赵昆) (left of Lord Wei)

Figure 3: Lord Wei (centre); Lady Bates (right of Lord Wei); Counsellor for Overseas Chinese Affairs Li Hui (李辉) (right of Lady Bates), Counsellor for Overseas Chinese Affairs Zhao Kun (赵昆) (left of Lord Wei).26

A further interest on Lord Wei’s Register of Interests, originally added on 14 January 2011 and deleted 5 days later on 19 January shows sponsorship was received from “Xuelin Black”, to “meet the expenses of one intern in the Member's private parliamentary office”27. (see Appendix 1) It isn’t possible to ascertain the name of said intern as it is currently Parliament policy to destroy the Register of Interests of Members' Secretaries and Research Assistants after 5 years.28

On 29 June 2011, Lord Wei updated his Register of Interest to reflect he was taking Mandarin lessons provided to him by a Confucius Institute pro-bono. (Appendix 1) Confucius institutes are overseen by the Chinese government with heavy involvement of the United Front Work Department (中央统一战线工作部).29

On 2 September 2011, Lord Wei travelled to King’s Cross Station in London to greet a delegation led by the above-mentioned Jin Zhiqiang (金志强), who notably is now referred to as deputy head of the Hangzhou City United Front Work Department (杭州市统战部).30 (See Figure 4 and Figure 5)

Figure 4: Left picture: Lord Wei (left), Jin Zhiqiang (金志强) (opposite, raising a glass), deputy head of the Hangzhou City United Front Work Department (杭州市统战部). Figure 5: Right picture: Lord Wei (韦鸣恩) (3rd from right) with Jin Zhiqiang (金志强) (4th from left), by Vice Minister of the Zhejiang United Front Work Department (杭州市统战部).

Figure 4: Left picture: Lord Wei (left), Jin Zhiqiang (金志强) (opposite, raising a glass), deputy head of the Hangzhou City United Front Work Department (杭州市统战部). Figure 5: Right picture: Lord Wei (韦鸣恩) (3rd from right) with Jin Zhiqiang (金志强) (4th from left), by Deputy Head of the Zhejiang United Front Work Department (杭州市统战部).

Lord Wei’s Register of Interests shows that two weeks later he visited Hong Kong and mainland China over the period 16 September to 2 October. The cost of flights to Hong Kong were met by ABP (China) Holding Groups Limited, the cost of internal flights to various cities in mainland China were met by Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, and the cost of internal flights to Shanghai and accommodation were met by the ZhongRong Group.31 Notably, all of these companies would later face scrutiny. ABP which had previously been advised by Lady Xuelin Bates32, was awarded the “right to redevelop the historic Royal Albert Docks”33 in what was described as a “controversial deal”.34

In 2020, The UK Government banned Telecom operators from purchasing Huawei equipment for the UK’s 5G networks, they must also remove all of Huawei’s 5G kit from their networks by 2027.35

Notably, Lord Bates was the subject of a complaint which alleged that “Lord Bates breached the Code of Conduct by failing to register in the Register of Lords' Interests his involvement in a proposal by the Chinese developer ZhongRong Group to redevelop part of Crystal Palace Park; and by failing to declare as an interest when he sat on the Olympic and Paralympic Legacy Committee in 2013 his and Lady Bates’ involvement with the proposal.” However, the Commissioner for Standards found that “Lord Bates did not breach the Code in respect of any of the allegations.”36

On said trip to China, Lord Wei met with Huang Xuming (黄旭明), vice chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial Political Consultative Conference (浙江省政协), the provincial chapter of the peak United Front forum.37 He also met with the above-mentioned Wu Jing (吴晶), Chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese ( 浙江侨联), and Xu Yousheng (许又声), Deputy Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council (国务院侨务办公室).38

The Zhejiang UK Association Newsletter also notes of this visit that “In order to further communicate with the younger generation in Beijing, Lord Wei gave a lecture titled ‘The Chinese Dream’ at Tsinghua University in Beijing. On the same day, he engaged with Professor Xie Weihe, Vice President of Tsinghua University, and they discussed his vision.”39

This is further corroborated by a post on the Tsinghua University website, which reads:

“The Lord’s speech was divided into sections, including the potential role of overseas Chinese in the process of communicating between the East and the West, the overseas Chinese and the Chinese dream, the current situation and challenges faced by the overseas Chinese, the role that the overseas Chinese can play in communicating between the East and the West, the Chinese dream and how to benefit China, global Chinese and humankind and other topics. His ‘China Dream’ is to help the world know more about China’s economic rise and inclusiveness of different cultures, to encourage and support more Chinese students to study in the UK, and to strengthen the ties and exchanges between China and the UK. In the era of global economic downturn, China should play a more important role, promote exchanges between China and the world, and realise the global dream of peaceful development.”40

On 11 December 2011, Lord Wei amended his Register of Interests to reflect that he had become director of Diaspora Ventures Ltd, a “social enterprise training young leaders in the British Chinese community”.

On 21 January 2012, Lord Wei attended the Lunar New Year party of the United Front-linked UK Zhejiang Association (英国浙江联谊会), which was headed by Lady Xuelin Li Bates (李雪琳), to celebrate the Year of the Dragon for members, friends and “special guests” (特邀嘉宾).41 (See Figure 6)

Figure 6: Consul General Tang Li of the Chinese Embassy in the UK (驻英使馆总领事唐立) (front row middle, left of Lord Wei), Counsellor for Overseas Chinese Affairs Li Hui (李辉) (back row, sixth from right) Dr Shan Sheng (单声博士) President of The UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会), Lord Wei (韦鸣恩) (front row, fifth from right) Lady Xuelin Li Bates (front row, fourth from right) celebrate Lunar New Year.

Figure 6: Consul General Tang Li of the Chinese Embassy in the UK (驻英使馆总领事唐立) (front row middle, left of Lord Wei), Counsellor for Overseas Chinese Affairs Li Hui (李辉) (back row, sixth from right) Dr Shan Sheng (单声博士) President of The UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会), Lord Wei (韦鸣恩) (front row, fifth from right) Lady Xuelin Li Bates (front row, fourth from right) celebrate Lunar New Year.42

The United Front nature of the event is reflected by the attendance of key PRC embassy officials and Dr. Shan Sheng (单声博士), President of the UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会).

On 23 January 2012, the Confucius Institute for Business in London (CIBL, part of LSE) held a ‘Chinese New Year Reception’ in the UK Houses of Parliament. Lord Wei, a student of the Confucius Institute for Business gave the opening speech (see Figure 7), followed by Tian Xiaogang (田小刚), Minister Counsellor of the Education Section of the PRC Embassy in the UK, Stephen Philips, CEO of the China-Britain Business Association, and CIBL Dean Nick Byrne.43

Figure 7: Lord Wei delivers a speech at the CIBL Chinese New Year Reception

Figure 7: Lord Wei delivers a speech at the CIBL Chinese New Year Reception.44

The Confucius Institute did not record who attended the event. However, a Zhejiang UK Association newsletter notes the attendance of Dr Shan Sheng (单声博士) President of the UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会), Shan Gui Quilin (桂秋林) wife of Dr Shan Sheng, Lady Bates and Huang Ping (黄萍), vice chairman of the Zhejiang UK Association.45 (Figure 8)

Figure 8: Lord Wei (centre); Dr. Shan Sheng (单声博士) (second from left); Shan Gui Qiulin (third from left) (桂秋林); Li Xuelin aka Lady Bates (李雪琳) (third from right); and Huang Ping (黄萍) (second from right); and Wang Changnan (王昌南) (first left), President of the Chinese Association of Financial Executives in the UK (英国金融家协会) attend the CIBL ‘Chinese New Year Reception’.

Figure 8: Lord Wei (centre); Dr. Shan Sheng (单声博士) (second from left); Shan Gui Qiulin (third from left) (桂秋林); Li Xuelin aka Lady Bates (李雪琳) (third from right); and Huang Ping (黄萍) (second from right); and Wang Changnan (王昌南) (first left), President of the Chinese Association of Financial Executives in the UK (英国金融家协会) attend the CIBL ‘Chinese New Year Reception’.46

On 29 January 2012, Boris Johnson, then Mayor of London. visited Chinatown to express his good wishes to the Chinese community celebrating Chinese New Year. A Zhejiang UK Association newsletter reports that he was greeted by “Representatives of the Chinese people”47, in this case, Lady Bates, President of the Zhejiang UK Association, Lord Wei and Dr Shan Sheng (单声博士) President of the UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会).48 (See Figure 9)

Figure 9: Boris Johnson (second from left), Lord Wei (second from right), President Li Xuelin (李雪琳) (left) and of Dr Shan Sheng (单声博士) President of The UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英華人華僑中國統一促進會) in London’s Chinatown in January 2012

Figure 9: Boris Johnson (second from left), Lord Wei (second from right), President Li Xuelin (李雪琳) (left) and of Dr Shan Sheng (单声博士) President of The UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英華人華僑中國統一促進會)49 in London’s Chinatown in January 2012.

Between 4 and 5 April 2012, led by Xuelin Bates, Lord Bates and Lord Wei visited Hangzhou, where they meet with Wang Xiaofeng (王晓峰), Deputy Secretary-General and Director of the General Office of Zhejiang Provincial People's Government (浙江省人民政府), Wu Jing (吴晶), Chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (浙江省侨联), Zhang Weiren (张维仁), Vice Chairman of the Federation, and Li Peipei (李培培), Deputy Inspector of the Zhejiang Provincial Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (浙江省侨务办公).50 (See Figure 10)

Figure 10: Wang Xiaofeng (王晓峰), Deputy Secretary-General and Director of the General Office of Zhejiang Provincial People's Government (浙江省人民政府) (middle, 6th from right); Lord Bates (5th from left); Lord Wei (5th from right); Lady Li Xuelin Bates (李雪琳), President of Zhejiang UK Association (英国浙江联谊会) left of Lord Bates; Huang Ping (黄萍) (2nd from left) Executive Vice-President of Zhejiang UK Association (英国浙江联谊会); Hu Wei (胡炜) (4th from right), Vice-President of Zhejiang UK Association (英国浙江联谊会); and Wang Changnan (王昌南) (2nd from right), President of the Chinese Association of Financial Executives in the UK (英国金融家协会).

Figure 10: Wang Xiaofeng (王晓峰), Deputy Secretary-General and Director of the General Office of Zhejiang Provincial People's Government (浙江省人民政府) (middle, 6th from right); Lord Bates (5th from left); Lord Wei (5th from right); Lady Li Xuelin Bates (李雪琳), President of Zhejiang UK Association (英国浙江联谊会) left of Lord Bates; Huang Ping (黄萍) (2nd from left) Executive Vice-President of Zhejiang UK Association (英国浙江联谊会); Hu Wei (胡炜) (4th from right), Vice-President of Zhejiang UK Association (英国浙江联谊会); and Wang Changnan (王昌南) (2nd from right), President of the Chinese Association of Financial Executives in the UK (英国金融家协会).5152

In 2018, Wang Xiaofang (王晓峰) was appointed Executive Deputy Minister of the Zhejiang Provincial CCP Committee’s United Front Work Department (浙江任省委统战部).53

Lord Wei’s Register of Interests shows that 3 months after his visit to Hangzhou, he returned to China on 12 July 2012 for a speaking engagement on behalf of British healthcare brand Holland & Barrett.57 The event was the grand opening of Holland & Barrett’s first store in China. The event was attended by Harvey Kamil, Vice Chairman of the Board of H&B Group and Chris Wood, Minister & Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy, Beijing at that time. Notable is the attendance, again, of Dr. Shan Sheng (单声博士), President of the UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会).58 (See Figure 11)

Figure 11: Chris Wood, Minister & Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy, Beijing (fifth from right); Lord Wei (韦鸣恩) (fifth from left); Dr. Shan Sheng (单声博士), ), President of the UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会) (fourth from right).

Figure 11: Chris Wood, Minister & Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy, Beijing (fifth from right); Lord Wei (韦鸣恩) (fifth from left); Dr. Shan Sheng (单声博士), ), President of the UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会) (fourth from right).59

On 5 August 2012, Lord Wei attended a fundraising event for the construction of Red Army Primary Schools (红军小学) in China.60 The schools, which rely on donations from benevolent companies and prominent members of society, specialise in educating students about China’s “revolutionary history and spirit”, singing revolutionary songs, reciting martyrs’ stories, and putting on performances that eulogise Chairman Mao Zedong. Students wear Red Army uniforms, including octagonal caps and red scarves.61 The fundraising event coincided with the 2012 Olympics and, as such, members of the Chinese Olympic team were present.

The following photo (Figure 12) accompanies a write up of the event in the UK Zhejiang Association Newsletter:

The banner reads “Holland & Barrett (中国) 祝中国奥运代表团获得好成绩!” (Holland & Barrett (China) wish the Chinese Olympic delegation good results!).62

Figure 12: Lord Wei (韦鸣恩) (Centre); Dr Shan Sheng (单声博士) (Left of Lord Wei), President of the UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会)

Figure 12: Lord Wei (韦鸣恩) (Centre); Dr Shan Sheng (单声博士) (Left of Lord Wei), President of the UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会).

As previously mentioned, Lord Wei and Dr. Shan Sheng (单声博士), president of the of The UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会) cut the ceremonial banner at the opening of Holland & Barrett’s first store in China.63

A separate photo (Figure 13), no longer visible with the article but cached in Google images and as a result, over pixelated, shows Lord Wei standing in front of the Red Army Primary School’s (红军小学) flag.64

Figure 13: Lord Wei (韦鸣恩) (middle); Chinese Olympic athletes Cao Yuan (曹缘) (right of Lord Wei) and Zhang Yanquan (张雁全) (left of Lord Wei); and Wu Qi (吴奇) (far right), Director of the National Red Army Elementary School Construction Engineering Council 全国红军小学建设工程理事会)

Figure 13: Lord Wei (韦鸣恩) (middle); Chinese Olympic athletes Cao Yuan (曹缘) (right of Lord Wei) and Zhang Yanquan (张雁全) (left of Lord Wei); and Wu Qi (吴奇) (far right), Director of the National Red Army Elementary School Construction Engineering Council 全国红军小学建设工程理事会).

While not in attendance, it should be noted that Li Zhaoxing (李肇星) is reported as having sent Lord Wei a letter of thanks. In the report, Li is described as “Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress and honorary chairman of the National Red Army Elementary School Construction Engineering Council”.65 It fails to mention, however, Li Zhaoxing’s (李肇星) role as president of the China Association for International Friendly Contact (CAIFC --中国国际友好联络会)66, a “united-front-style group” run by the Liaison Department of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission Bureau (中央军委政治工作部联络局), the political warfare arm of China’s People’s Liberation Army.67 Linked to China’s military intelligence network, the CAIFC’s main function is establishing and maintaining rapport with senior foreign defence and security community elites, including retired senior military officers and legislators.68

The Zhejiang UK Association newsletter reports that more than 110,000 RMB was raised at the event69, around £11,000 in July 2012.70

Wu Qi (extreme right in Figure 13), meanwhile, is a former PLA serviceman who now resides in the UK.71

On 10 November 2012, Lord Wei gave a speech at the inaugural China Business Forum 2012 held at the London Business School China Club72 where he is reported to have said:

“I know your topics today span investment, innovation, sustainable growth and branding, and I want to talk about something that’s very much in line with these themes. A subject that is dear to my heart, which I have called the Chinese Dream”.73

Lord Wei certainly did not coin the term “Chinese Dream (中国梦)”. The term has a chequered history, having been used by Western academics, but also and more importantly by Chinese nationalists. For Chinese people and Chinese politics, the term first came to prominence when retired People’s Liberation Army officer Liu Mingfu (刘明福) published a book entitled “The China Dream: Great Power Thinking and Strategic Posture in the Post-America Era” in 2010. This was a seminal book in the evolution of Chinese thinking about how to displace American power. Henry Kissinger has written of this book, “In Liu’s view… conflict is inherent in US-China relations. The relationship between China and the United States will be a ‘marathon contest’ and the ‘duel of the century’.” The book defines Chinese nationalism and warns that a failure to displace America will lead to China’s decline. The phrase “Chinese Dream” became synonymous with Xi Jinping when, after becoming president, Xi Jinping employed the phrase on countless occasions and encouraged its use as a central slogan for his regime. Lord Wei also mentioned ‘the Chinese Dream’ in the House of Lords in 201474, and on other occasions.75

On 22 February 2013, Lord Wei declared on his Register of Interests that he was Director of the Manchester China Forum, and this notice of interest was later updated in August 2020 to co-founder of the Forum.

On 2 July 2013, Lord Wei declared on his Register of Interests that he was Chair of The Conservative Friends of the Chinese. This interest ceased on 27 September 2019 and was deleted from the register on 28 September, 2020. Lady Bates has also been a key person in this group, serving on the executive board between 2013-201476 and again between 2019-2020.77

The First UK Chinese Food Festival (英国中国美食节):

On 25 September 2015, the first UK Chinese Food Festival (英国中国美食节) was held. While the festival sounds rather innocuous, its connections to key United Front agents, support from the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom and visits from Chinese Communist Party officials suggest something else.

Three months earlier in July, the 2015 London Chinese Food Festival was launched at The City of London Club. It was at this meeting that Wu Shiquan (吴世泉), Chairman of the London Chinese Food Festival Organising Committee noted that the festival was being launched in response to China’s “One Belt, One Road” policy, and in accordance with the theme of “promoting healthy and authentic Chinese food culture, showing the vast and profound Chinese food traditions to the UK and the world, and helping more Chinese catering and food companies go abroad”. The importance of this event in PRC-CCP influence becomes clear when one looks at the “honorary chairman” of the Chinese Food Festival, Dr. Shan Sheng (单声博士), who is also President of the UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会).78

Follow up reporting goes on to say “The First London Chinese Food Festival was honoured to invite the president of the "UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society", overseas members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a special consultant of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and directors of the China Peaceful Reunification Promotion Association, and the Overseas Exchange Office of the State Council.”79

Besides Wu Shiquan (吴世泉), the UK Chinese Food Festival (英国中国美食节) was reported as being organised by Tang Zimu (汤子幕) and Tang Shi (唐诗).80

Although not present, Lord Wei sent a recorded speech to the meeting.8182 (See Figure 14)

Figure 14: Lord Wei delivers a speech.

Figure 14: Lord Wei delivers a speech.

On the day the first UK Chinese Food Festival was held, Lord Wei delivered a speech (see Figure 15)83 and Dr. Shan Sheng (单声博士), President of The UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会) cut a ribbon marking the start of the event (see Figure 16).84

Figure 15: Lord Wei delivers a speech.

Figure 15: Lord Wei delivers a speech.

Figure 16: Dr Shan Sheng (单声博士) (front row, third from right), President of the UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会), cut a ribbon marking the start of the event.

Figure 16: Dr Shan Sheng (单声博士) (front row, third from right), President of the UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会), cut a ribbon marking the start of the event.

Lord Wei’s above-mentioned “Diaspora Emerging Leadership Programme” was listed as a partner on the UK Chinese Food Festival website85. The logo of the programme was also featured on promotional material86. The UK Research and Development Centre for Chinese Traditional Studies (英国中华传统文化研究院) was also listed as a partner87, a claim repeated by Xinhua (新华) in 2019.88 The Centre also advertised the festival on their website.89

The UK Research and Development Centre for Chinese Traditional Studies (英国中华传统文化研究院), is headed by Gui Qiulin (桂秋林)90. Gui Qiulin’s (桂秋林) husband , Dr. Shan Sheng (单声博士), President of The UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会)91 is listed as “honorary dean” of the centre.92 Coincidentally, Gui Qiulin (桂秋林) is listed as Executive Vice President of the UK Promotion of China Re-Unification Society (全英华人华侨中国统一促进会), headed by Shan Sheng.93 In 2017, organisers Tang Zimu (汤子幕) and Tang Shi (唐诗) were added to the UK Research and & Development Centre for Chinese Traditional Studies (英国中华传统文化研究院) board as a technical consultant and head of development, respectively.94

The nature of the festival was further reiterated by the Chinese delegates to the 2019 UK Chinese Food Festival, notably, Shi Qiangzhen (石强桢), member of the Standing Committee of the CCP Chongqing Wulong District Committee (重庆市武隆区委常委) and head of the Propaganda Department (宣传部部长). Festival organiser Tang Shi (唐诗) is reportedly from Chongqing.95 In addition, Lu Haitian (卢海田) Counsellor for Overseas Chinese Affairs in the Chinese Embassy in UK also participated. Consistent with previous festivals, local politicians were invited. In this case, Mayor of Southwark Councillor Barrie Hargrove participated.96

On 8 April, 2016, Lord Wei travelled to Chengdu where he met with Yang Wei (杨伟) and Lu Tianyi (吕天一). Yang Wei (杨伟) was described as a senior official in the Chengdu government, while Lu Tianyi (吕天一) was deputy director of the Municipal Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (市外事侨务办).97 As mentioned above, in 2018, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council (国务院侨务办公室) was absorbed by the CCP Central Committee’s United Front Work Department (中共中央统一战线工作部).98 The trip seems not to be listed as an overseas visit on Lord Wei’s Register of Interests.

Appendix 1: Notable excerpts from Lord Wei’s Register of Interests: 99

Lord Wei’s Notable Overseas Visits:

  • Visit to Beijing, China, 2 April 2011, as guest of Phoenix Satellite Holdings Limited, to attend awards ceremony; cost of flights and accommodation met by Phoenix Satellite Holdings Limited (originally added 27 April 2011)
  • Visit to various cities in mainland China, 13-19 April 2011; cost of internal flights met by China Eastern Airlines (originally added 28 April 2011)
  • Visit to Hong Kong and mainland China, 16 September - 2 October 2011; cost of flights to Hong Kong met by ABP (China) Holding Group Limited; cost of internal flights to various cities in mainland China met by Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd; cost of internal flights to Shanghai and accommodation met by ZhongRong Group (originally added 1 November 2011)
  • Visit to Hong Kong, 16-20 February 2013, as part of delegation from All Party Parliamentary China Group; hospitality, accommodation and flights provided by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (originally added 22 February 2013)
  • Visit to Hong Kong, 25 May - 4 June 2017, to speak with students and staff at Hong Kong Polytechnic University; costs of flight and board met by host (originally added 22 June 2017)

Lord Wei’s Notable Gifts, benefits and hospitality:

  • Lessons in Mandarin provided by the Confucius Institute on a pro bono basis (originally added 29 June 2011, Interest deleted 3 March 2015)
  • Holiday accommodation in Shanghai provided by Mr Xin Biao Zhang (originally added 8 October 2012, Interest deleted 3 March 2015)

This is part of an ongoing series looking at members of the House of Lords and how they’ve engaged with the PRC, in particular, with United Front Work Department and United Front like engagements.

Introductory References

  1. Gareth Davies, MI5 warns Chinese 'spy' has been active in Parliament, The Telegraph, 13 January 2022.
  2. Ben Ellery and Sam Dunning, China ‘infiltrates’ groups welcoming Hongkongers to Britain, The Times, April 18 2022.
  3. Ben Ellery and Sam Dunning, China is tracking me, says Hong Kong dissident Simon Cheng, The Times, April 16 2022.

References

  1. Big Society tsar Lord Wei reduces hours, BBC, 2 February 2011
  2. David Cameron, Speech - Prime Minister: "We want a strong relationship with China, Cabinet Office, 10 November 2010.
  3. Hamilton, C. and Ohlberg, M., Hidden Hand: Exposing How the Chinese Communist Party Is Reshaping the World, 2020.
  4. 廖秀琴, 英国浙江联谊会、英国上海联谊会携手共度新春, 杭州市归国华侨联合会, 10 February, 2011.
  5. Ibid.
  6. Ibid.
  7. 刘晓明大使会见英国上院华裔议员韦鸣恩, 中华人民共和国驻大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国大使馆, 30 March 2011.
  8. 2011.02.15-04.30 通讯快报, 英国浙江联谊会, pp. 4.
  9. Alex Joske, The party speaks for you, ASPI, pp. 4,7, 09 June 2020.
  10. 2011.02.15-04.30 通讯快报, 英国浙江联谊会, pp. 4.
  11. Alex Joske, Reorganizing the United Front Work Department: New Structures for a New Era of Diaspora and Religious Affairs Work, The Jamestown Foundation, May 9 2019.
  12. 许又声, 国务院侨务办公室
  13. Alex Joske, The party speaks for you, ASPI, pp. 7, 09 June 2020.
  14. 吴 晶, 中华全国归国华侨联合会, 06 April, 2021.
  15. Alex Joske, The party speaks for you, ASPI, pp. 4,7, 09 June 2020.
  16. Ibid.
  17. Ibid.
  18. Alex Joske, The party speaks for you, ASPI, pp. 4,7, 09 June 2020.
  19. 省侨联领导会见英国上议院议员韦鸣恩勋爵，浙江省归国华侨联合会, 28 April 2011.
  20. Ibid.
  21. 英国上议院华裔议员韦鸣恩勋爵一行访问浙江嘉兴, 中国中央电视台, 19 April 2011.
  22. Lord Wei, Register of Interests, House of Lords.
  23. Lord Wei, Register of Interests, House of Lords.
  24. 李雪琳：发挥英中两国之间的桥梁和纽带作用, 杭州市人民政府侨务办公室, 12 November 2014.
  25. 2011.07.01-08.30 通讯快报, 英国浙江联谊会, pp. 5.
  26. Ibid.
  27. Lord Wei, Register of Interests, House of Lords.
  28. Register of Members' Secretaries and Research Assistants, UK Parliament.
  29. Alex Joske, The party speaks for you, ASPI, pp. 4, 09 June 2020.
  30. 2011.09.01-10.30 通讯快报, 英国浙江联谊会, pp. 1.
  31. Lord Wei, Register of Interests, House of Lords.
  32. Gabriel Pogrund and Sam Dunning, Beijing court forces Chinese billionaire to hole up in UK, The Times, February 13 2022.
  33. Gabriel Pogrund et al, Chinese Docklands development signed off by Boris Johnson on brink of collapse, The Times, February 5 2022.
  34. Gabriel Pogrund and Sam Dunning, Beijing court forces Chinese billionaire to hole up in UK, The Times, February 13 2022.
  35. Leo Kelion, Huawei 5G kit must be removed from UK by 2027, BBC, 14 July 2020.
  36. The conduct of Lord Bates - Privileges and Conduct Committee, House of Lords.
  37. Alex Joske, The party speaks for you, ASPI, pp. 7, 09 June 2020.
  38. 2011.09.01-10.30 通讯快报, 英国浙江联谊会, pp. 5.
  39. Ibid.
  40. 英国上院终身议员韦鸣恩男爵到我校演讲“中国梦”(图), 清华大学, 27 September 2011.
  41. 廖秀琴, 英国浙江联谊会举办龙年新春联欢晚会, 杭州市归国华侨联合会, 31 January 2012.
  42. Ibid.
  43. 赵梦婕和陈抒，伦敦商务孔院成功举办英国上议院春节招待会，国家汉办/孔子学院总部，20 February 2012.
  44. Ibid.
  45. 2012.01.01-02.29 通讯快报, 英国浙江联谊会, pp. 4.
  46. Ibid.
  47. 2012.01.01-02.29 通讯快报, 英国浙江联谊会, pp. 6.
  48. 执行委员, 全英華人華僑中國統一促進會.
  49. 2012.01.01-02.29 通讯快报, 英国浙江联谊会, pp. 6.
  50. 为浙江省产业转型牵线搭桥 英国浙江联谊会国内举行洽谈活动, 英国浙江联谊会新闻处, pp. 2.
  51. 委员简介, 英国华人金融家协会.
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  53. 浙江人事任免：省政府副秘书长王晓峰任省委统战部常务副部长, 澎湃新闻, 17 April 2018.
  54. Not used.
  55. Not used.
  56. Not used.
  57. Lord Wei, Register of Interests, House of Lords.
  58. 百年英国健康品牌HOLLAND & BARRETT开启中国之旅”, 新浪, 17 July 2012.
  59. Ibid.
  60. 伯明翰举行捐助红军小学建设活动, 今日华闻, 10 August 2012.
  61. Red Army primary schools across China continue to carry the flag of patriotism, Global Times, 19 December 2017.
  62. 2012.07.01-08.31 通讯快报, 英国浙江联谊会, pp. 8.
  63. 百年英国健康品牌HOLLAND & BARRETT开启中国之旅, 新浪, 17 July 2012.
  64. 为奥运健将喝彩，为红军小学献爱心, Google Image Search, 03 December, 2020.
  65. 奥运期间伯明翰举行捐助红军小学建设活动, 中国青年网, 31 August, 2012.
  66. Geoff Wade, Spying beyond the façade, ASPI, 13 November 2013.
  67. Alex Joske, The party speaks for you, ASPI, pp. 15, 09 June 2020.
  68. Mark Stokes and Russell Hsiao, The People’s Liberation Army General Political Department: Political Warfare with Chinese Characteristics, Project 2049 Institute, pp. 24, 14 October 2013.
  69. 2012.07.01-08.31 通讯快报, 英国浙江联谊会, pp. 8.
  70. British Pound to Chinese Yuan Spot Exchange Rates for 2012, Exchange Rates UK, 2012.
  71. 韩胜勋, 支援武汉有我—退役军人献真情, 英国华商报, 25 February, 2020; 红军小学校旗在伦敦飘扬 革命老区华侨欢迎习大大访英, 人民网, 21 October 2015; 2012年全国红军小学建设工程理事会年会, 北京巨峰教育科技有限公司.
  72. China Business Forum 2012, YouTube, 10 January 2013.
  73. The Lord Wei of Shoreditch, Member of the House of Lords - Keynote at China Business Forum 2012, YouTube, 17 December 2012.
  74. Hansard, Soft Power and Conflict Prevention Volume 757: debated on Friday 5 December 2014, House of Lords
  75. Asia Society, Lord Wei: Building the Chinese Dream, 09 April, 2013; 英国上议院华裔议员提出“中国梦, BBC News, 24 November 2011.
  76. About us - The Board, Conservative Friends of the Chinese.
  77. About Us, Conservative Friends of the Chinese
  78. 燕勐、张茜, 2015年伦敦中国美食节项目正式启动, 人民网, 17 July 2015.
  79. 2015年伦敦中国美食节：用美食搭起文化交流的桥梁 新浪 (山西新闻网),26 June 2015.
  80. 80后“吃货”在英打造中国美食节 欧洲时报,08 May 2018.
  81. 2015年伦敦中国美食节：用美食搭起文化交流的桥梁, UKPandaTV, YouTube, 15 September, 2014.
  82. Lord Wei’s speech for Chinese Food Festival, Vimeo.
  83. 2015 UK Chinese Food Festival, 01:14, Vimeo.
  84. 英国浙江联谊会通讯快报 2015.09.01-10.31, 英国浙江联谊会,27 November, 2015
  85. Partners, UK Chinese Food Festival, 25 December 2015.
  86. 有一个女孩 在伦敦举办了中国美食节, 新浪.
  87. Partners, UK Chinese Food Festival, 25 December 2015.
  88. 中国美食节在英展示“食文化”魅力, 新浪 (新华网), 11 September, 2017.
  89. 中国美食节, 英国中华传统文化研究院.
  90. 英国中华传统文化研究院成员简介, 英国中华传统文化研究院.
  91. 执行委员, 全英華人華僑中國統一促進會.
  92. 英国中华传统文化研究院成员简介, 英国中华传统文化研究院.
  93. 执行委员, 全英華人華僑中國統一促進會.
  94. 2017-2019年度组织构架, 英国中华传统文化研究院.
  95. 80后“吃货”在英打造中国美食节 欧洲时报,08 May 2018.
  96. 2019英国中国美食节, 英中时报, 05 September, 2019.
  97. 杨伟会见英国华裔贵族韦鸣恩勋爵, 成都市经济信息中心, 12 April 2016.
  98. Alex Joske, Reorganizing the United Front Work Department: New Structures for a New Era of Diaspora and Religious Affairs Work, The Jamestown Foundation, May 9 2019.
  99. Lord Wei, Register of Interests, House of Lords.

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