Prince Andrew's ties to alleged Chinese spy raise national security alarms

In recent months, documents were disclosed detailing Prince Andrew's relationship with Yang Tengbo, a businessman accused of being an agent of Chinese influence. Yang, who lived in the UK since 2002, was banned from entering the country on national security grounds due to concerns that he might have tried to exert influence over the Duke of York. The allegations surfaced following Prince Andrew's disastrous BBC interview in November 2019, where he faced scrutiny for his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. After this interview, there were significant concerns regarding Andrew's reputation and future, driving him to seek new business ventures with Yang. The court papers revealed an unusual degree of trust between Andrew and Yang, who was described as a key figure in Andrew's efforts to establish a $3 billion investment fund, known as the Eurasia Fund. This scheme aimed to raise cash for investment projects in China, Africa, and the Middle East. Concerns were raised by UK security agencies as the potential for a member of the royal family advancing Chinese interests could be seen as compromising national security. Andrew's aide, Dominic Hampshire, remarked that the Duke viewed Yang as critical to salvaging his public image after the fallout from the Newsnight interview. As tensions increased around Prince Andrew's business plans, his secretive meetings with Yang became points of contention among royal aides and within Buckingham Palace. In these meetings, Yang was said to help Andrew navigate business opportunities and maintain communications with key figures in China, including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Despite Yang's denials of wrongdoing, documents indicated that he had helped Andrew secure investments and draft letters to Xi, further entrenching their relationship. The implications of Andrew's connections to Yang have sparked widespread concern, especially after MI5 issued warnings about foreign influence in British politics. With Yang's alleged status as a state agent working for the Chinese Communist Party, the controversy surrounding Andrew's dealings has only intensified, leading to questions about the integrity of royal connections and the risks they pose to national security as well as the royal family's reputation. Following the revelations, Buckingham Palace reaffirmed that King Charles III had no ties to Yang, attempting to distance the monarchy from the ongoing scandal.