MI6 Accused of Recruiting Chinese Government Employees as Spies

China Accuses MI6 of Recruiting Chinese Couple as Spies
China has leveled accusations against Britain’s MI6 for allegedly using coercion to recruit married Chinese government workers, Wang and his wife Zhou, as spies. According to Beijing, MI6 offered the couple well-paid consulting jobs in exchange for state secrets. This claim intensifies the ongoing espionage disputes between China and the United Kingdom, both of which have accused each other of national security threats.
The Ministry of State Security in China stated that the couple was targeted after Wang participated in an official exchange program to Britain in 2015. Allegedly, British operatives groomed Wang, exploiting his financial desires, and later convinced him and his wife to spy for Britain by offering monetary incentives and security guarantees. Despite the ongoing investigation, it remains unclear if charges will be brought against the couple.
Beijing’s allegations include that MI6 provided Wang with professional espionage training before instructing him to return to China to collect sensitive information. The recruitment supposedly extended to Zhou due to her position in a “core government unit”. However, specific details about the information the couple might have provided remain undisclosed.
The Chinese Ministry of State Security has been more open about its counter-espionage efforts since launching its WeChat profile last year, often announcing espionage cases and offering advice to prevent Chinese nationals from being co-opted by foreign intelligence.
In the midst of these allegations, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reiterated Britain’s policy of not commenting on intelligence matters. This espionage accusation comes at a time of heightened tension between China and the UK, following mutual charges of spying and amidst disputes over Beijing’s policies in Hong Kong.
The UK and China have a history of reciprocal espionage charges, with recent incidents involving charges against individuals for collecting sensitive information. Moreover, the case adds to the complex dynamics of UK-China relations, already strained over issues of free speech and elections in Hong Kong.