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China has announced the prosecution of a Chinese national working for a military-industrial group, implicating him in espionage activities for the US. The case sheds light on the ongoing espionage between the two countries.
The individual, identified as Zeng, in his early 50s, allegedly agreed to provide classified military information to the CIA in exchange for financial compensation and assistance with his family’s immigration to the US. China’s Ministry of State Security revealed these details in an unprecedented statement outlining the recruitment of a Chinese citizen by the CIA.
This announcement comes a week after two US Navy sailors, including a naturalized American citizen of Chinese descent, were charged in California for sharing sensitive military information with the Chinese government.
According to the Chinese ministry, Zeng had access to classified information and was cultivated by a CIA operative while studying in Italy. The statement alleges that the CIA agent used flattery and enticement, such as wining and dining and attending cultural events, to influence Zeng with “western values.”
Upon returning to China, Zeng continued to meet with CIA personnel, exchanging information and receiving payment. The statement does not provide specific details of his activities but states that his case has been transferred to prosecutors after an investigation.
Please note that the Financial Times was unable to independently verify the statement from the Ministry of State Security, and the CIA did not respond to comment requests.
This development occurs amidst increased publicized cases of Chinese nationals accused of espionage in the US and convictions of American citizens, including former intelligence officers and military personnel, for spying on behalf of Beijing.
The CIA has faced challenges in recruiting spies within China due to heightened surveillance and advanced monitoring technologies. This has prompted the agency to expand its recruitment efforts outside of China.
Just over a decade ago, the MSS identified several Chinese citizens who were spying for the CIA, primarily due to extensive technical surveillance. Intelligence officials from the US have reported that some of these spies were executed.
Recently, CIA director Bill Burns acknowledged the agency’s efforts to rebuild its intelligence network in China following the significant exposure. He highlighted the importance of strengthening human intelligence capabilities alongside other methods of intelligence gathering.
The chair of the UK’s intelligence and security committee has raised concerns about China’s increasingly sophisticated spying activities. In May, Microsoft also warned that a state-sponsored Chinese hacking group compromised critical infrastructure in the US.
Last month, China expanded its anti-espionage laws to encompass any documents, data, materials, or items related to national security.
Dennis Wilder, a former China expert at the CIA, noted historical cases where China had apprehended two CIA officers in the 1950s, which were only revealed later. It remains uncertain whether the current case occurred recently or is being publicized now due to the indictment of the two US sailors and their alleged Chinese handler.
Wilder added that FBI director Christopher Wray has been vocal about the intelligence threat posed by China. He suggested that Beijing may be attempting to demonstrate that spying is a mutual activity and to challenge the perceived moral superiority of the US on this issue.
Additional reporting by Ryan McMorrow in Beijing
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