The FBI and MI5 held a dramatic, unprecedented joint press conference to sound warning bells about China’s long-term threat to the US, UK and their allies.

FBI Director Christopher Wray reaffirmed longstanding concerns in denouncing economic espionage and hacking operations by China as well as the government’s efforts to stifle dissent abroad. But his speech on Wednesday (UK time) was notable because it took place at MI5’s London headquarters alongside the agency’s director general, Ken McCallum, in an intended show of western solidarity.

The respective heads of the American and British spy agencies wanted to signal China’s increasing aggression, as the country threatens to invade Taiwan, and raised fresh alarms to business leaders that Beijing is determined to steal their technology for competitive gain.

Dr Bryce Wakefield, from the Australian Institute of International Affairs, said the agencies joined forces to protect their diplomatic systems.

“What they’re really focused on is alerting the private sector to these [hacking] issues, in ways the Australian government has already done,” he told Gary Adshead, in for Liam Bartlett on 6PR Mornings.

LISTEN below to what else the agencies are concerned at 👇