Alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo says he ‘did nothing wrong’ as he issues statement over links to Prince Andrew

The alleged Chinese spy with links to Prince Andrew has said he did “nothing wrong or unlawful” – as he was named publicly for the first time.

In a statement, Yang Tengbo added that the “widespread description of me as a ‘spy’ is entirely untrue”.

Politics live: What we know so far about Yang Tengbo

It comes after the High Court lifted restrictions on naming the businessman, previously described as a “close confidant” of the royal, earlier this afternoon.

Until now he was only known publicly as “H6” after a court imposed an anonymity order.

Mr Yang said he asked his legal team to disclose his identity “due to the high level of speculation and misreporting in the media”.

Last week he lost an appeal over a decision to bar him from entering the UK on national security grounds.

Guy Vassall-Adams KC, for Yang Tengbo, told the High Court: “There has been an enormous amount of media reporting in relation to this story, and particularly in relation to the relationship between my client, H6, and Prince Andrew, as well as a huge amount of speculation about the identity of my client.

“Having reflected on these matters, my client wishes to make a public statement and is applying for last Wednesday’s order to be discharged.”

In his statement, Mr Yang said: “I have done nothing wrong or unlawful and the concerns raised by the Home Office against me are ill-founded. The widespread description of me as a ‘spy’ is entirely untrue.”

He claimed he was a victim of a “political climate” which had seen a rise in tensions between the UK and China.

“When relations are good, and Chinese investment is sought, I am welcome in the UK,” he said.

“When relations sour, an anti-China stance is taken, and I am excluded.”

Pressure had been mounting for Mr Yang to be named after last week’s court ruling.

Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, had threatened to use parliamentary privilege to reveal his identity in the House of Commons this afternoon if the anonymity order was not lifted.

Parliamentary privilege allows MPs to speak freely during parliamentary proceedings without fear of legal action.

Lifting his anonymity, Judge Mr Justice Chamberlain said: “It seems to me that these proceedings now serve no further purpose.”

Yang pictured with former prime ministers

On Friday, Prince Andrew said he “ceased all contact” with the Chinese businessman.

In a statement from his office, the Duke of York said he had cut ties following “advice” from officials but insisted the pair had never discussed anything of a “sensitive nature”.

Mr Yang was invited to Prince Andrew’s birthday party in 2020, and was told by royal aide Dominic Hampshire he could act on the duke’s behalf when dealing with potential investors in China, a tribunal heard in July this year.

Mr Yang had previously also been pictured alongside former prime ministers – including David Cameron and Theresa May.

Both Lord Cameron and Lady May’s spokespeople told Sky News at the weekend they meet and are photographed with many people each year.

A spokeswoman for Ms May said: “Baroness May and her husband, Sir Philip, are photographed at numerous events in any given year.

“As such, she doesn’t remember when or where this particular photograph was taken or the man in question.”

A source close to Lord Cameron said: “David Cameron was leader of the Conservative Party for over a decade and PM for six years.

“He met thousands of people in that time at hundreds of functions and events. We don’t have any further information about this individual.”

The government will later face questions from MPs about the Chinese spying group Mr Yang is said to belong to.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who requested an urgent question on the matter, has warned there are “many, many more” like Mr Yang in the UK and this case “is the tip of the iceberg”.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier said he is “concerned” about the challenge China poses as he defended his push for a “pragmatic” relationship with Beijing.

He would not comment on whether the government has discussed the situation with Buckingham Palace, saying there is “a long-standing convention” to keep talks between Downing Street and the Royal Family private.

Yang statement ‘not worth paper it’s written on’

Professor Anthony Glees, an intelligence and security expert from the University of Buckingham, told Sky News that Prince Andrew “unbeknown to himself, perhaps, been a risk to our national security”.

He said Mr Yang’s statement is “not worth the paper it was written on” and that hostile states using “long-term penetration” lasting decades is common.

He added: “In fact, there is an intelligence law in China that says that every member of the Communist Party of China has a duty to accept intelligence tasking if the state demands it of them.”