In Beijing, China has accused the British Secret Intelligence Service MI6 of recruiting two employees from unspecified Chinese central state agencies to serve as spies for the British government, as stated by its State Security Ministry on Monday, June 3. The ministry disclosed that the case involving the two alleged spies, who are a married couple, is currently under further investigation. Both China and Britain have been exchanging allegations for months regarding espionage activities that each perceives as threats to their respective national security.

In January, China disclosed an espionage case where it claimed MI6 employed a foreign national in China to gather confidential information. Meanwhile, in April, Britain pressed charges against two individuals for providing sensitive information to China, and last month, three individuals were charged with assisting Hong Kong's foreign intelligence service in Britain.

According to the Chinese ministry's statement, the spy identified by the surname Wang pursued studies in the UK in 2015 through an exchange program and was clandestinely introduced to dinners and tours organized by MI6 during this period. Wang, who allegedly harbored a strong desire for financial gain, was enticed into a part-time consulting role with lucrative compensation before being approached by MI6 operatives to serve the British government. Assured of substantial monetary rewards and security, Wang agreed.

Following espionage training, MI6 instructed Wang to return to China to gather vital information concerning the Chinese government. Additionally, the ministry stated that MI6 persuaded Wang to recruit his wife, who was employed at a "core government unit", by offering double the financial incentives. Eventually, Wang's wife, identified by the surname Zhou, consented to the arrangement.