Mark Elliott, Professor of Public Law at the University of Cambridge, provides a good analysis on Starmer’s comments.

The Prime Minister insists that the dropping of China-related espionage charges occurred for reasons entirely outwith the control of his government — but his argument that his hands were tied by the previous government’s position on China is, at best, highly contestable …

The reality is that it is open to the government today to say that it considers that China was a threat to national security in 2021–23 and to offer that view as evidence for the purpose of criminal proceedings …

The entire comment makes a good read: publiclawforeveryone.com/…/on-china-the-official-…