China Accuses MI6 of Espionage Involving Chinese Couple
Beijing, June 3, 2024 - China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) has accused the British intelligence agency MI6 of recruiting a Chinese couple working within core state agencies as spies. The couple, identified by their surnames Wang and Zhou, were allegedly targeted by MI6 during Wang's visit to the UK in 2015 as part of an exchange program.
According to the MSS, MI6 agents first approached Wang during his stay in the UK by inviting him to social gatherings and leveraging his financial vulnerabilities. The ministry claimed Wang was hired to provide consulting services beyond normal rates and later recruited as a spy, with his wife Zhou also being co-opted under similar pressures.
The MSS stated that the case remains under investigation, without disclosing whether Wang and Zhou have been detained or charged. This accusation follows several other high-profile espionage cases involving alleged Chinese spies in the UK and Europe, raising tensions between Beijing and Western governments.
In recent months, the UK has charged multiple individuals with spying for China and Hong Kong, including former parliamentary aides and a Royal Marine. Moreover, similar espionage charges have been brought against individuals in Germany and Belgium, accused of collaborating with Chinese intelligence.
The UK government has not commented on the latest allegations. China has dismissed all accusations of espionage as malicious slander.
The MSS, increasingly using social media platforms like WeChat to publicize its activities, continues to advise Chinese citizens on recognizing foreign intelligence attempts. The exposure of this case highlights the ongoing espionage confrontations between China and Western nations.