China claimed that MI6 has targeted State employees in an attempt to recruit spies

China accused the UK's MI6 of recruiting a Chinese man and his wife, who worked for the state, as spies through coercion and enticement during the man's studies in the UK.

China has been persistent in claiming that MI6 has been involved in recruiting Chinese state employees to spy against their government. In this week’s episode of the Ministry of State Security’s WeChat post, it said that MI6 agents deceived a Chinese man known as Mr. Wang and his wife, Ms. Zhou, into spying for the UK. 

The ministry says that MI6 recruited Mr. Wang when he first came to Britain for his studies in 2015 under the Sino-British exchange program. The ministry said that MI6 operatives paid “particular attention” to him and treated him to dinners and tours to try and learn more about his true character and potential weaknesses.

The ministry further alleged that the operatives preyed on Mr. Wang’s ‘overriding love for money,’ approached him while he was on campus as an alumnus, and offered him ‘paid consulting services. ’ The operatives are then said to have convinced and pressured Mr. Wang into spying for the UK government in exchange for better remuneration and security guarantees.

MI6 agents also used Mr. Wang to recruit his wife, Ms. Zhou, to gather information for the UK, the ministry further accused. In its argument, the document said that although at first reluctant, Mr. Wang could not withstand the incessant pressure and temptation from the operatives and joined, forcing his wife as well.

The United Kingdom officials were contacted for a response to these claims. These allegations are made at a time when China has been experiencing rising political tensions and alleged espionage with several Western countries.

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This particular case is still considered an ongoing investigation, as per the Ministry of State Security of the People’s Republic of China where in recent months, it has been actively providing information and alerts through its WeChat channel.