China has dismissed the “China spy threat” claim, saying it is a groundless accusation being hyped to smear China and undermine China-Europe cooperation.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin made the remark on Tuesday amid arrests and charges of “suspected spies for China” in Germany and Britain.

A man who works for a German lawmaker in the European Parliament has been arrested on suspicion of spying for China, The Associated Press quoted German prosecutors as saying on Tuesday.

This follows reports that three people were arrested in Germany on the same suspicion, and two were charged in Britain.

“We are firmly opposed to such hyping, and urge relevant parties to stop disseminating the disinformation of the so-called China spy threat, and stop their anti-China political manipulation and malicious slander,” Wang said.

The reports came about a week after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrapped up his visit to China.

“In recent years, the so-called China spy threat is hyped shortly before or after every high-level exchange between China and Europe with an obvious intention to smear China and disrupt the atmosphere for China-Europe cooperation,” Wang told a regular news conference.

Wang called on “relevant people in Germany to ditch the Cold War mentality”, and reiterated that claims that China is suspected of stealing information from Britain are “purely groundless”.

Wang emphasized that China conducts cooperation with all other countries, including those in Europe, following the principle of mutual respect and noninterference in each other”s internal affairs.

“We have promoted mutually beneficial cooperation with related parties on the basis of abiding by laws and regulations,” he said.