For visits to China these precautions have been standard for at least a decade, such is the expectation that Beijing will eavesdrop and monitor. It was advice that was passed on generally by officials to all those travelling on the trip eight years ago. Concerns about peeping tom surveillance are particularly relevant to those in the official entourage or business and press delegations staying in hotels. “The rest of the advice,” the senior security official said, “was warning middle-aged men that if an attractive young Chinese woman appeared interested in you, she probably wasn’t”. The Lib Dem, who was then business secretary, was visiting China and did not have his mobile phone with him.

Source: The Guardian January 29, 2026 16:52 UTC