China Accuses Britain of Espionage, Claims MI6 Recruited Government Employees

China Accuses Britain of Espionage, Claims MI6 Recruited Government Employees

VoM News Desk | June 3, 2024 | 01:50 PM IST | China, United Kingdom, World | Follow on Google News

China Accuses Britain of Espionage, Claims MI6 Recruited Government Employees

China Accuses Britain of Espionage, Claims MI6 Recruited Government Employees

Key Highlights:

1. China accuses UK of recruiting Chinese government employees for MI6.
2. Alleged spies had access to core confidential information.
3. Investigation into espionage claims is ongoing.

China has accused Britain of espionage, claiming that the UK’s MI6 secret intelligence service recruited a married couple working for the Chinese government, CNN reported. In a statement, China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) announced it had cracked a “major espionage case” involving MI6, identifying two spies allegedly planted by the British within Chinese ranks.

The accusation comes shortly after British police charged three individuals with espionage for Hong Kong’s intelligence service and follows April’s charges against two others accused of spying for China, including a former researcher for a Conservative Party legislator.

According to the MSS, a man identified only by his surname Wang, who worked at an important state institution with access to core confidential information, was recruited by MI6. The MSS claimed that MI6 valued Wang’s access and approved his application to study in the UK in 2015 under an exchange program. During his time in the UK, MI6 allegedly identified Wang’s “character weaknesses and personal interests” and offered him a part-time consultancy job with significant pay due to his “strong desire for money.”

The MSS further alleged that MI6 personnel approached Wang to work for the British government with promises of higher monetary rewards and security guarantees, to which he agreed. He reportedly received espionage training before returning to China to gather intelligence.

Additionally, MI6 allegedly pressed Wang to persuade his wife, who worked for a “core” government agency, to join the espionage effort, promising to quadruple her pay.

This development comes amid increased public activity and visibility of China’s MSS under President Xi Jinping. The MSS has made several public announcements about thwarting foreign espionage programs, although these claims are difficult to verify.

The case remains under investigation.

VoM News Desk

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