<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">What's happening? </h2>

The news shocked politiciansSomeone whose job it is to be involved in running a country. Politicians try to persuade people they have the best ideas to run the country. from all around the UK. Hundreds of people work at the Palace of WestminsterWhere the UK's House of Commons and House of Lords meet. , at the heart of British politics, every day. Everyone is supposed to be working to make Britain a more successful place.

But now one of them had been arrestedStopped by the police and taken to a police station. . The police say they think the parliamentary aideAssistants to officials and politicians in parliament. is a Chinese spyPolitico Magazine says that when Vladimir Putin first arrived in Dresden as a mid-level KGB officer in 1985, he was in charge of handling anti-Western terrorists..

Some think it is silly to be so shocked. They say everyone knows that countries spy on each other. The fact China was caught is probably a good sign: it means it is not very good at it.

Spying has always been a part of life, going back thousands of years.

These days, spying takes place on a huge scale. Spies recruitPersuade someone to take a job or join a group. agents in other countries and watch people they are worried about in their own countries. And these days, a lot of spying takes place online.

Some think we should treat spies in the same way as soldiers. They are allowed to break the normal rules because they do it for the greater good.

Spies, say some, are just trying to keep ordinary people safe.

But others say spies often are not trying to do good. Some spies have actually put people in harm's way. Agents often recruit ordinary people to spy for them. If these people are found out, bad things can happen to them.

Yes! We should all want to live in an honest and open world. Spying is wrong. And it puts ordinary people in danger.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Find out more</h2>

No! Most spies are just trying to keep people safe. We need to know what other countries are doing so that we can react to any situation.

Consternation - A feeling of shock or confusion. It derives from a Latin verb meaning to alarm or dismay.

Politicians - Someone whose job it is to be involved in running a country. Politicians try to persuade people they have the best ideas to run the country.

Palace of Westminster - Where the UK's House of Commons and House of Lords meet.

Arrested - Stopped by the police and taken to a police station.

Parliamentary aide - Assistants to officials and politicians in parliament.

Spy - Politico Magazine says that when Vladimir Putin first arrived in Dresden as a mid-level KGB officer in 1985, he was in charge of handling anti-Western terrorists.

Recruit - Persuade someone to take a job or join a group.