The former head of MI6 has said that the UK needs to "wake up" to the danger that China poses to international security.
Western nations are "under full press of Chinese espionage," according to Sir Alex Younger, who oversaw the UK's intelligence agency from 2014 to 2020.
In the past week, the US military has shot down four objects, including a rumored Chinese spy balloon.
Tolerating nations "who behave in an unacceptable way," Sir Alex told the BBC, must be subject to restrictions in the UK.
On February 4, a Chinese spy balloon was shot down by the US military after it passed over important military locations in North America. According to China, the object was a weather balloon that went astray.
Three more "unidentified objects" have been shot down since then all over North America.
On the Today program of BBC Radio 4, Sir Alex stated that "this balloon scenario demonstrates there is no trust" between China and western countries.
"This is a flagrant and very obvious violation of the sovereignty of many nations. ".
Sir Alex stated that the UK must acknowledge "we're in a competition" with China.
We must become aware of this, he said.
"To combat the current systemic competition, we must build on our strengths even more. ".
According to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the government will take "whatever it takes" to protect the UK from spy balloons.
The prime minister announced on Monday that RAF Typhoon jets were on standby around-the-clock to patrol UK airspace as part of a "quick reaction alert force."
