China’s claims are the latest in a series of heated exchanges between the two countries over spying charges, including the arrest of a British parliamentary researcher in September 2023 on suspicion of spying for the Chinese government.
Monday 8 January 2024 12:23 UK
Chinese authorities say they have detained a man on suspicion of collecting state secrets for the British intelligence agency MI6.
China’s intelligence agency, the Ministry of State Security, posted on its social media WeChat account that the person was a third-country national.
Security officials identified them only as Hwang, saying he was the head of an overseas consulting firm.
MI6 added that it established an “intelligence partnership” with the man in 2015.
M16 then directed Mr Huang to enter China several times and to use his official identity as a cover to collect China-related intelligence for British espionage, the statement said.
It added that MI6 also provided specialized intelligence training to Hwang in Britain and elsewhere, and provided him with special spy equipment for intelligence coordination.
No further information was provided about the information collected, and the ministry did not say when Huang was detained or where he was being held.
“After careful investigation, national security agencies immediately found evidence of Mr. Huang’s involvement in espionage activities.”
He has been banned and criminal enforcement measures have been taken against him,” the statement said.
The Chinese government has not disclosed the consulting agency.
Under China’s opaque political and legal system, what constitutes state secrets is not clearly defined, and many consulting and advisory firms are unable to access data that would normally remain in the public record, especially when dealing with foreign companies. The company is under investigation for allegedly obtaining shared data.
Sky News has contacted the UK Foreign Office for comment on China’s claims.
China’s claims are the latest in a heated exchange between the two countries over spying allegations.
The British government said Chinese spies were targeting senior government officials in sensitive positions in politics, defense and business as part of an increasingly sophisticated espionage campaign to gain access to secrets.
A British parliamentary researcher with ties to several senior Conservative Party members said: Arrested on suspicion of Chinese spying in September 2023.
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From September 2023: China denies spying on the UK
China repeatedly denounced the allegations in a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, calling them “totally baseless.”
“We call on the UK to stop spreading disinformation, political manipulation and malicious slander against China,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in response to questions at a press conference.
China has cracked down on what it sees as threats to national security and has disclosed several spying cases in recent years.
The government is also warning citizens at home and abroad about the risk of contracting the infectious disease.
Espionage.
It has encouraged people to participate in counter-espionage efforts, including creating channels to report suspicious activity.
China has also launched a sweeping crackdown on foreign consulting and due diligence firms, citing the threat of leaking state secrets, which has rattled foreign companies operating in the country.