According to a statement published on the ministry’s official account on the social network WeChat, the detainee, identified by the surname Huang and whose nationality was not revealed, “ran a consultancy company abroad” and, in 2015, was recruited by MI6, which he established with it a “cooperation relationship in matters of information”
MI6 has since ordered him to travel to China several times, “under a public identity”, to “collect sensitive information” for the United Kingdom and “search for individuals for MI6 to recruit”, the same note reads.
The ministry indicated that MI6 also trained him professionally in the United Kingdom and other countries in intelligence matters and provided him with special equipment to communicate.
Following an investigation, Chinese security agencies discovered evidence of Huang’s alleged espionage activities and applied “criminal coercive measures” once morest him, the statement said.
The suspect provided MI6 with nine “confidential” level state secrets, the second most important in the Chinese state information system.
Last August, the Chinese Ministry of State Security called for the mobilization of “the entire society”, aiming to “prevent and combat espionage”.
The organization indicated that all state bodies and social organizations, companies and institutions have the obligation to prevent and stop espionage and “protect national security”, and said that it would make telephone numbers and PO boxes available to citizens to receive complaints , “guaranteeing the confidentiality” of informants.
The entry into force last year of an amendment to China’s Counterintelligence law prohibited the transfer of any information related to national security and expanded the definition of espionage.
The vague language of the legislation caused concern among foreign investors, especially following, last May, the Chinese Police entered the offices of two consultancies, Bain & Co. and Capvision, and a market analysis company for mergers and acquisitions or investments, Mintz Group.
Authorities gave no explanation, saying only that foreign companies are required to comply with the law.