China’s Ministry of State Security has detained the head of an overseas consultancy on allegations of spying for Britain’s Secret Intelligence Services, also known as MI6. The action follows claims that the accused, identified as Huang Moumou of a “third nationality”, has collected Chinese secrets and state information since establishing an “intelligence cooperation relationship” with MI6 in 2015. The accused reportedly used his public identity as a cover to enter China and engender rebellion by identifying personnel while sourcing China-related intelligence.
The Chinese security agency also alleges that Moumou received professional intelligence training in Britain and other locations, and was equipped with the necessary espionage tools. Consequently, the ministry noted that it had undertaken “criminal coercive measures” against Moumou, following the discovery of criminal evidence during an in-depth investigation. The confidentiality department disclosed revealing that Moumou provided 17 confidential state secrets and intelligence pieces to MI6. However, the Ministry did not disclose the specifics of the secrets or Moumou’s nationality.
China and Britain have, in recent times, been engaged in disputes over espionage allegations and consequent national security concerns. Earlier in September 2023, China arrested a researcher from the UK parliament under the Official Secrets Act, accusing him of espionage, thereby sparking “very strong concerns” from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on alleged interference in the UK parliament. Other examples of similar accusations made by China were the sentencing of a 78-year-old citizen to life imprisonment on espionage charges in May 2023, and arrests made among employees at notable US consulting firms the previous year.
These allegations and actions follow China’s revision of its counter-espionage law in 2023 which expanded its ambit with a catch-all provision that enhanced the power of the administrative enquiry potentially threatening foreign companies that might find themselves in the crosshairs.
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