China has claimed that MI6 converted two employees of unidentified key state agencies in the country into British government spies.
In a statement, the State Security Ministry stated that more investigation is being conducted into the allegations made against the married pair of spies.
The Chinese ministry stated in a statement that the spy, whose last name is Wang, studied in the UK in 2015 and was invited to covert MI6-arranged dinners and tours during that time.
Wang was described as having “a strong desire for money” and was persuaded to accept a part-time consultancy position by MI6 agents who offered him security and even greater financial incentives in exchange for working for the British government.
Following his espionage training, Wang was given instructions by MI6 to go back to China and gather crucial data regarding its regime.
Wang’s wife was enticed in by MI6 to work for a “core government unit,” according to the ministry, and was paid twice as much.
In the end, the wife—who went by Zhou—agreed.
For months, China and Britain have been exchanging allegations regarding alleged surveillance that jeopardizes their respective national security.
China disclosed an espionage case in January, claiming that MI6 had employed a foreigner living in China to gather intelligence and secrets.
Furthermore, three persons were charged last month for aiding Hong Kong’s foreign intelligence agency in Britain, while two others were charged in April by British authorities for allegedly giving China damaging information.