China has warned its citizens against “exotic beauties” seeking to lure them into the hands of foreign spy agencies.

The Ministry of State Security said a Chinese man, Li Si, went to a nightclub while on an overseas trip and was later blackmailed by foreign spies.

The ministry’s WeChat post’s title read, “Hunting for beauty? You may become the prey”.

Analysts say such warnings reflect a sense of insecurity among China’s leaders.

The Ministry of State Security, which functions as China’s intelligence and secret police agency, has increasingly been raising the alarm among citizens about the dangers of foreign spies.

The ministry has also been making public the cases of people being arrested for espionage in China. Earlier this month, the ministry said Beijing had detained an individual alleged to be spying for Britain’s foreign intelligence service, MI6.