China has accused the British Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, of recruiting two employees from Chinese central state organs as spies for Britain, according to a statement from China’s State Security Ministry released on Monday. The ministry disclosed that the case, involving the two individuals who are a married couple, is still under active investigation.
China and Britain have for months traded accusations over perceived spying that threatens their respective national securities.
In January, China revealed an espionage case in which it said MI6 used a foreigner in China to collect secrets and information.
Britain in April charged two people with providing prejudicial information to China and last month charged three people with assisting Hong Kong’s foreign intelligence service in Britain.
The Chinese ministry stated that during a 2015 exchange program in the UK, the spy, surnamed Wang, attended dinners and tours covertly organized by MI6.
Wang was said to have “a strong desire for money” and was lured into a part-time consulting opportunity with high remuneration before MI6 personnel approached him to work to serve the British government with promises of even bigger monetary rewards, as well as security. He agreed.
After espionage training, MI6 commanded Wang to return to China to collect important information related to the Chinese government.
The ministry said MI6 also persuaded Wang to turn over his wife, who worked at a “core government unit”, for double the money. The wife, surnamed Zhou, eventually agreed.
With Inputs From Reuters
