China firmly protested the depiction of its nationals as spies following the arrest in the United States of two Chinese nationals on allegations of espionage and attempts to recruit US Navy officers. In a press conference on Wednesday, the foreign ministry spokesperson of China, Mao Ning, indicated that the nation would do what is necessary to safeguard its nationals.
I am not clear on the details, but we have always been against unsubstantiated rumors of the so-called ‘Chinese spies’ myth. We will take corresponding measures to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens,” Mao Ning said in a press briefing.
FBI Arrests Two Men Charged with Working for Chinese Intelligence
FBI on Friday arrested Yuance Chen, 38, and Liren “Ryan” Lai, 39. They are charged by the US Justice Department with acting as agents of the Chinese government and could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.
Chen was a legal permanent United States resident and resided in Happy Valley, while Lai had entered Houston, Texas, in April on a tourist visa.
Suspects Tied to China’s Ministry of State Security Allegedly
Lai allegedly hired Chen in 2021 to help China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) with intelligence activities in the United States, the criminal complaint says. They allegedly conducted clandestine operations against US military personnel together.
The charge also uncovered that during 2022, the pair arranged for a clandestine “dead-drop payment” of a minimum of $10,000 at a recreational facility locker in Northern California. The payment was reportedly for the passing on of classified US national security information that was already been transferred to Chinese intelligence.
US Attorney General Issues Warning on Chinese Spying Threat
Florida Attorney General Pamela Bondi stressed the wider ramifications of the arrests, saying:
“This case highlights the Chinese government’s relentless and aggressive campaign to penetrate our military and erode our national security from the inside out.”
US officials see the arrests as evidence of increasing efforts by Beijing to penetrate American defense and intelligence networks.
While China insists it does not know the details of the case, its response indicates a widening diplomatic chill over charges of espionage. The case is the latest addition to a lengthening list of tensions in the standoff between Washington and Beijing, specifically over cyber security, intelligence operations, and national sovereignty.