Telegraph: China Tapped Phones Of Aides To Britain's Prime Ministers For Years

• 27.01.2026, 21:18

C 2021 through 2024.

China has been tapping the cell phones of assistant prime ministers of Great Britain for years. The newspaper The Telegraph writes about it with reference to sources.

According to its information, Chinese-sponsored hackers from 2021 to 2024 tapped the mobile devices of aides Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. At the same time, the newspaper did not specify whether it was possible to access the phones of the prime ministers.

At the same time, US intelligence sources told the Telegraph that Beijing was continuing its operation to wiretap senior UK officials. Therefore, the current Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his advisers may also have been compromised.

The piece notes that if hackers failed to listen to calls of high-ranking officials, they may have gained access to data that could be used to understand when and with whom they were in contact.

Before that it was reported that British counterintelligence MI5 plans to issue a guide for parliamentarians with tips on countering foreign interference. The document, prepared by the National Protection and Security Directorate (a division of MI5), is aimed at people who are categorized as "high risk." It will warn MPs of threats from "hostile states" and suggest precautions. These include advice on hiring assistants, social media behavior and travel abroad, including not leaving phones and laptops unattended in hotels.