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China has accused the British Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, of using a foreign individual to conduct espionage activities within its borders. This allegation comes amid a series of intense exchanges between China and the UK, each accusing the other of spying and jeopardizing national security.

According to China’s Ministry of State Security, an individual known only by the surname Huang, linked to an overseas consulting agency, was reportedly recruited by MI6 in 2015 to gather intelligence on China using their public identity as cover.

The Chinese government claims that MI6 provided Huang with professional intelligence training and special espionage equipment for operations. They assert that state security officials uncovered evidence of Huang’s espionage activities and subsequently took action against him.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning called for the UK to cease its “disinformation and stop political manipulation and malicious slander against China.” In response, the British government has accused Chinese spies of targeting UK officials across various sectors to gain access to sensitive information.