England and Wales's chief prosecutor has said no "outside pressure" played a part in his organisation's decision to drop charges against two British men accused of spying for China.
Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions who leads the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said his team had considered "alternative offences" but concluded "none were suitable".
The case against Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry, a teacher, was dropped on Monday prompting fury from the UK government, opposition parties and Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle.
Cash and Berry had denied the allegations. Beijing called the claims "malicious slander".
The two men were accused of gathering and providing information prejudicial to the safety and interests of the state between 28 December 2021 and 3 February 2023.
