An alleged Chinese spy claimed he took a “significant risk” to his reputation by continuing to support Prince Andrew after his disastrous Newsnight interview, newly released documents have revealed.
Yang Tengbo, who was banned from the UK on national security grounds in March 2023, said he maintained “loyalty and commitment” to the duke despite the royal’s generally “negative” perception in China.
Yang, who has denied being a spy, unsuccessfully challenged the decision at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission last year.
UK authorities have alleged that he formed an “unusual degree of trust” with the Duke of York and developed relationships with politicians to be “leveraged” by China.
An alleged Chinese spy claimed he took a ‘significant risk’ to his reputation by continuing to support Prince Andrew after his disastrous Newsnight interview, newly released documents have revealed
Getty
A secrecy order preventing the release of some documents linked to the case was lifted on Friday in the public interest.
Yang appears to have targeted the duke through his Pitch@Palace initiative, a Dragons’ Den-style competition launched in 2014, and was later appointed to lead its Chinese arm.
In his 37-page statement, Yang said that Pitch@Palace China had been “recognised as one of the top international entrepreneur and start-up platforms in the country”.
He said after the duke’s November 2019 interview with Emily Maitlis, “everything changed” with partners pulling out.
Prince Andrew claimed he ‘ceased all contact’ with alleged Chinese spy after ‘concerns were raised’
Getty
Yang claimed he agreed to continue supporting the initiative despite the risks.
He said: “I admired and respected the duke in how engaged and passionate he was about supporting Chinese entrepreneurs.”
Yang denied “scheming to destabilise the UK” and said he was “confused” as to why the British state believed he was a threat.
Yang suggested that the duke wanted to maintain relationships with Chinese business in August 2021 because he “needed money”.
He claimed the duke saw relationships with China through Pitch as “one possible source of funding”.
Prince Andrew keeps a low public profile
Getty
Yang insisted that meeting members of the Chinese Communist Party was “unavoidable” as a representative of Chinese business in the UK.
He stated: “I don’t deceive, I don’t mislead, and I don’t hide things to interfere with the interests of the UK.”
Yang also dismissed concerns about the 48 Group, which promotes UK-China trade, as “paranoid and far-fetched”.
Prince Andrew claimed he ‘ceased all contact’ with alleged Chinese spy after ‘concerns were raised’
GB News has reached out to representatives of the Duke of York for a comment.
