China intelligence agency detains individual accused of espionage for Britain's MI6

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China intelligence agency has detained an individual accused of gathering state secrets for Britain's Foreign Intelligence agency MI6.

According to the Ministry of State Security's social media post on Monday, the person in question, identified as Huang and a citizen of a third nation, had allegedly collaborated with Britain since 2015, newswire Associated Press reported.

The ministry claimed that Huang, who had received intelligence training and equipment, collected numerous state secrets during multiple visits to China. Details about the gathered intelligence, the timing of the detention, and the detainee's current location were not provided.

The definition of state secrets is not clearly defined under China's legal system, and many consulting and advisory firms have been investigated for obtaining data that would ordinarily be in the public record, particularly if they were shared with foreign entities, the AP report said.

The British government has yet to comment on the allegations of China intelligence agency, but they follow a deterioration of relations between the sides sparked in part by British opposition to Chinese investments in the country, especially in the power and communications industries where the ruling Communist Party exercises strong influence.

London has also been highly critical of China's curtailment of political rights in Hong Kong, a former British colony where violent anti-government protests in 2019 were met with Beijing's imposition of a sweeping national security law and electoral changes. Those have largely eliminated any political opposition to Beijing's decrees and silenced freedom of speech in what had been one of Asia's most dynamic societies and a major financial centre.

Meanwhile, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has arrived in Beijing on Monday on a five-day state visit during which he is due to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and sign several agreements to bolster the bilateral ties.

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Muizzu, who is regarded as "pro-China", is accompanied by his wife Sajidha Mohamed and a high-level delegation. The President and the First Lady were greeted by senior Chinese officials upon their arrival.

Muizzu is due to hold talks with Chinese President Xi and sign several agreements to bolster the bilateral ties, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin.

"The relations between China and the Maldives now stand at a new historical starting point. We believe that through this visit, the two heads of state will provide strategic guidance for the bilateral relations to reach a new height," Wang told the media on January 5.

During President Muizzu's visit, the Maldives and China will hold official talks and sign key agreements to enhance trade, professional development, and socioeconomic cooperation, the Maldivian President's Office said in a press release. (With inputs from agencies)