BEIJING (Reuters) -China has alleged that the British Secret Intelligence Service MI6 turned two employees members of unnamed Chinese language central state organs into spies for the British authorities, its State Safety Ministry stated in an announcement on Monday.
The ministry stated the case towards the 2 spies, a married couple, is underneath additional investigation.
China and Britain have for months traded accusations over perceived spying that threatens their respective nationwide securities.
In January, China revealed an espionage case wherein it stated MI6 used a foreigner in China to gather secrets and techniques and data.
Britain in April charged two folks with offering prejudicial info to China and final month charged three folks with helping Hong Kong’s international intelligence service in Britain.
In its assertion, the Chinese language ministry stated the spy with the surname Wang studied within the UK in 2015 underneath an trade programme and had been invited to dinners and excursions surreptitiously organized by the MI6 throughout that interval.
Wang was stated to have “a powerful need for cash” and was lured right into a part-time consulting alternative with excessive remuneration earlier than MI6 personnel approached him to work to serve the British authorities with guarantees of even larger financial rewards, in addition to safety. He agreed.
After espionage coaching, MI6 commanded Wang to return to China to gather necessary info associated to the Chinese language authorities.
The ministry stated MI6 additionally persuaded Wang to show his spouse, who labored at a “core authorities unit”, for double the cash. The spouse, surnamed Zhou, ultimately agreed.
(Reporting by Liz Lee and Shanghai newsroom; Enhancing by Jacqueline Wong and Michael Perry)
