BEIJING accused two Chinese citizens today of spying for Britain, in the latest test of a relationship that has grown increasingly fraught.

In a message posted on social media, the Ministry of State Security, China’s main intelligence service, said it had uncovered a major espionage case involving a couple identified only by their surnames, Wang and Zhou, who were allegedly recruited by MI6. 

The ministry alleged that Mr Wang had been recruited by MI6 after going to Britain as a student in 2015 and was later joined by his wife.

It also said that he had been given hotel rooms, trips around the country and financial incentives.

The couple worked for the Chinese government in a “central state agency” and handled government secrets, which they passed to MI6, the ministry added. 

No information was given about what specific information the couple may have provided. 

The ministry said the case was still under investigation and gave no word on the location of the couple.

There was no immediate comment from the British government.

Last month, two men appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on charges of collecting sensitive information for Hong Kong’s authorities.

A third suspect, Briton Matthew Trickett, was also charged in the case, but he was later found dead in a park in what police said were unexplained circumstances.