By Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters) -The British government has come under sustained criticism after a prosecution against two men accused of spying for China collapsed last month, with critics saying it was because of fears of upsetting Beijing.

Here is what the case is about and why it has proved controversial:

WHAT IS THE UK CHINESE SPYING CASE?

Two men, Christopher Cash, 30, a former director of the China Research Group think-tank, and Christopher Berry, 33, who worked as a researcher for a senior lawmaker, were arrested by British police in March 2023 on suspicion of spying for China.

In April 2024, the men were charged with an offence under the 1911 Official Secrets Act of passing politically sensitive information to a Chinese intelligence agent known as “Alex”. They denied any w

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