China says its security agencies have detained a foreign national over espionage charges related to Britain’s foreign intelligence agency MI6.
The Chinese Ministry of State Security posted a statement on its WeChat social media account on Monday, saying the head of an overseas consulting firm for spying on the Asian nation for the British government had been arrested.
The individual, who was only identified by surname Huang, “entered China several times under instructions to use their public profile as a cover to collect China-related intelligence for Britain,” the ministry stated.
“After careful investigation, the state security organs promptly discovered evidence of Huang's involvement in espionage activities, and took criminal coercive measures against him.”
The MI6 established an “intelligence cooperative relationship” with Huang in 2015, the ministry said. The British spy agency conducted professional intelligence training for Huang in Britain and other places, and provided special espionage equipment for intelligence cross-linking, it added.
China has repeatedly vowed to take all necessary measures to safeguard national security against US and UK spy networks inside the country.