China Detains Foreign National Accused of Espionage for Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service

China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) has announced the detention of a foreign national, identified as "Huang," on charges of espionage for the United Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Service, commonly known as MI6.

The individual, who hails from a third country, allegedly operated as the head of an overseas consulting agency.

According to the official statement, the espionage case dates back to 2015 when MI6 purportedly established an "intelligence cooperation relationship" with Huang. The MSS claims that MI6 instructed Huang to visit China multiple times, utilizing his public identity as a cover to collect intelligence and identify potential recruits for MI6.

The MSS further alleges that Huang received professional intelligence training in various locations, including the UK, and was equipped with specialized spy equipment for communication. The individual's role as the head of a consulting agency overseas is noteworthy, given China's recent crackdown on foreign business consultants operating in the country, accused of obtaining sensitive information related to national security.

The statement indicates that the MSS discovered the case recently after a meticulous investigation, leading to the implementation of "criminal enforcement measures" in accordance with China's anti-espionage laws. Huang is said to have provided MI6 with nine classified documents, five confidential documents, and three additional pieces of intelligence.

Consular visits have been arranged for Huang, but the MSS did not specify the country from which the consular assistance is being provided. The British government has yet to comment on the allegations, maintaining its policy of neither confirming nor denying claims related to intelligence matters.

China has increasingly publicized cases of alleged espionage by Western countries, with a focus on the United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Accusing MI6 represents a relatively unusual development. In response, the UK government has become more vocal about Chinese intelligence activities, with the head of MI5 describing a "pretty epic" campaign of Chinese espionage, including online approaches to over 20,000 individuals in the UK.