LONDON — A Chinese businessman, known only as H6, has been banned from entering the UK due to national security concerns. H6 had close connections with Prince Andrew and was authorized to represent him in seeking investors in China. In February 2023, H6 was removed from a flight from Beijing to London, and the UK government later confirmed his ban in March 2023.
This decision came after H6’s phone was searched by UK authorities in 2021, when he was stopped at the border under counter-terrorism laws. Authorities found that H6 had been given the task of setting up a financial initiative by Prince Andrew. The purpose of the fund was not revealed, but documents suggested that H6 had strong ties to the Chinese Communist Party and a department used by China to extend its influence globally.
The ruling also revealed a letter from March 2020, sent by a senior advisor to Prince Andrew, which confirmed H6 was close to the prince. H6 had even been invited to Andrew’s birthday party that year, and the letter described the strong relationship between H6 and the royal family. The letter also hinted that H6 had worked around people who were not fully trusted by Andrew, including former private secretaries.
Prince Andrew, who is no longer performing royal duties after stepping down in 2022, was once a trade ambassador for the UK from 2001 to 2011. He has been under public scrutiny for his connection with the late Jeffrey Epstein, and he stepped down from royal duties after facing serious allegations. Despite these challenges, H6’s relationship with the prince was described as one of trust, which raised concerns that H6 could influence Andrew’s actions for Beijing’s advantage.
H6’s links to the Chinese Communist Party and its operations, which China uses to expand its global influence, were part of the reason for his UK ban. The UK government believed that H6 had the potential to use his relationship with Prince Andrew to benefit China’s interests.
The Chinese embassy in London has not yet commented on the situation.
This case highlights the increasing concerns over foreign influence in politics and the use of connections with influential people for political and business gain.
