Map reveals London hotspots feared to have been bugged by Chinese spies
Parks benches, pubs and hotels have all been tipped to be Beijing's targets, with security insiders warning MPs and other officials to be careful about what they talk about.
Foliage and benches in St James's Park, the Red Lion pub in Westminster and luxury hotels the Corinthia and Raffles have all been said to be hotspots for espionage, security sources told the Mail on Sunday.
One source said: 'We have been told the Chinese literally have the park bugged, with devices in the bushes and under park benches.'
They claimed that this was seen as worthwhile because civil servants and researchers often meet in the park over their lunch break.
The Red Lion pub, which is a popular spot for parliamentary staffers, has also been declared unsafe because of 'Chinese agents'.
Last week, concerns were raised about plans for a new Chinese 'super-embassy' at the former Royal Mint building in Tower Hamlets.
Documents submitted as part of the planning application revealed 'two suites of anonymous unlabelled basement rooms and a tunnel'.
Their actual purpose has been redacted for 'security reasons', and security expert Will Geddes told Metro that the unnamed rooms 'could be used for anything', such as 'detentions, planning, and even weaponry'.
Last weekend, MPs approved government plans to take control of British Steel's blast furnaces in Scunthorpe after negotiations with their Chinese owners, Jingye, appeared to break down.
The company had stopped buying enough raw materials to keep the blast furnaces going, with business secretary Jonathan Reynolds accusing them of failing to negotiate 'in good faith'.
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