China demands arrest of suspected British spy

Beijing's Ministry of National Security said on Monday that Britain's spy agency used third-country operatives to spy against China.

The ministry oversees both intelligence and counterintelligence. The ministry identified the alleged perpetrator as Huang Moumu. He is said to be the head of a foreign consulting firm. Furthermore, he denied disclosing any personal information. 

In 2015, according to the ministry, Huang was recruited by MI6 and a partnership for intelligence cooperation was established. 

Since then, the suspected spy has traveled to China several times at the behest of British intelligence to collect state secrets and identify MI6 operatives to "incite rebellion," the ministry statement said.

Huang received intelligence training in many locations within the UK and abroad courtesy of London, along with the provision of exclusive spy equipment. 

The ministry said it has received evidence of the suspect's crime and has taken action. Huang smuggled more than a dozen state secrets to the UK.

Although the West and China have regularly accused each other of espionage, this is the first time China has claimed to have caught a spy linked to Britain, according to several media reports.

However, prior to that, the ministry had previously demanded the arrest of US spies.