MI5 warns MPs over Chinese 'headhunters'

LONDON:

Britain's domestic intelligence agency MI5 warned on Tuesday that China was using spies disguised as headhunters to recruit parliamentarians, amid concern over Beijing's activities in the UK.

The allegations were promptly denied by a spokesperson at the Chinese embassy in London who said they were "pure fabrication and malicious slander", adding Beijing had "lodged stern representations" with the UK government.

"We urge the UK side to immediately stop this self-staged charade of false accusations and self-aggrandisement, and stop going further down the wrong path of undermining China-UK relations," the embassy spokesperson said.

There have been heightened fears about Chinese espionage in the UK after a politically sensitive case against two alleged spies was dropped, and as the government mulls a request from Beijing to build a controversial new embassy building in London.