China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) disclosed on Monday morning a major espionage case involving the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) recruiting a couple from a central state agency in China.
After a thorough investigation, the national security agency uncovered a significant espionage case involving MI6 recruiting an employee surnamed Wang and his spouse surnamed Zhou, the MSS said in a post published on its WeChat account.
In 2015, Wang applied to participate in a China-UK exchange program to study in the UK. MI6, valuing his position in a core confidential role, quickly facilitated the approval of his application.
Upon Wang's arrival in the UK, MI6 arranged for personnel to provide him with special attention, including dining invitations and sightseeing tours, to understand his personality weaknesses and hobbies.
After discovering Wang's strong desire for money, MI6 personnel, posing as alumni, befriended him on campus and offered him a part-time consulting opportunity with high compensation. Tempted by financial incentives, Wang agreed to engage in paid consulting.
Initially, the British side used public research projects as a pretext, gradually involving Wang in core matters of the central state agency, with payments significantly higher than normal consulting fees.
Although Wang became suspicious, he continued providing "consulting" services under the lure of substantial money.
After some time, the British side assessed the situation as mature and introduced MI6 personnel to Wang, revealing their identities and requesting his services for the British government, promising higher remuneration and security guarantees.
Seeking personal gain, Wang agreed to the British demands and completed the espionage procedures.
MI6 provided professional spy training for Wang and instructed him to return to China to gather important intelligence.
Wang's wife, Zhou, also worked in a critical department. MI6, confident in their control over Wang, repeatedly pressured him to recruit his wife, promising double compensation.
Despite initial hesitation, Wang succumbed to persistent persuasion, inducement, and even threats from the British side, eventually convincing Zhou to agree to gather intelligence for them.
Thus, Wang and his wife both became spies for the British side.
With a thorough investigation and solid evidence, the Chinese national security agency decisively took action, legally detaining and interrogating Wang and Zhou, thereby uncovering a significant MI6 operative within China’s internal system. The case is currently under further investigation.
This is another case in which the UK’s MI6 engaged in espionage activities against China, unveiled by China’s MSS. In January, Chinese authorities disclosed a case in which MI6 used foreign personnel from "a third country" for espionage targeting China.
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