Topline
China is investigating a Chinese national based on accusations they’re spying for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, China’s state security ministry said Monday, the second such charges China has leveled so far this month as the country cracks down on espionage and tensions with the U.S. mount.
A man crosses the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) seal in the lobby of CIA Headquarters in … [+]
Key Facts
The ministry said in a statement it was investigating a 39-year-old Chinese national, identified by his surname Hao, who works for a government ministry and allegedly was recruited by the CIA while studying in Japan, according to translations of the statement by Reuters and CNN.
Hao allegedly became “acquainted” with an official at the U.S. embassy in Japan through processing a visa application, known as “Ted,” who took Hao to dinner, gave him gifts and asked for his help with a research paper, which Ted paid Hao for, the statement alleges.
Ted then introduced Hao to a colleague who worked at the CIA, Li Jun, who allegedly had a “cooperative relationship” with Hao and “instigated Hao into rebelling” and signing an espionage agreement.
Hao allegedly took a job working for a ministry in the Chinese government upon returning to the country, and has met with U.S. CIA agents to “provide intelligence and collect espionage funds.”
The CIA and State Department have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Key Background
China’s statement comes weeks after the Chinese government previously announced on August 10 it had arrested Chinese national Zeng Moumou based on similar accusations of spying for the CIA. Moumou, an employee at a military-industrial company with access to classified information, was allegedly recruited by a CIA official in Italy. The U.S. also arrested two U.S. Navy sailors in August for allegedly sharing military information with China. The allegations come as China has ramped up its anti-espionage efforts in recent months, passing a new anti-espionage law that took effect in July. The law has been criticized by the U.S. and other countries for going too far, saying the law’s more sweeping definition of espionage activities could ensnare foreign companies conducting legitimate business activities. The news also comes after CIA Director William Burns told Bloomberg in July the agency had “made progress” in China with bolstering its intelligence network there. “We’re working very hard over recent years to ensure that we have a strong human intelligence capability to complement what we can do through other methods,” Burns said.
Tangent
The spying allegations come as tensions between China and the U.S. have escalated in recent months. The White House issued a statement Friday as part of President Joe Biden’s summit at Camp David with leaders from Japan and South Korea that condemned the country’s activities in the South China Sea, criticizing China’s “dangerous and aggressive behavior supporting unlawful maritime claims” in the heavily contested region, including “the militarization of reclaimed features; the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels; and coercive activities.” China lodged a formal complaint over the statement on Monday, Reuters reports. The New York Times previously noted the statement was likely to escalate tensions with China, and Lu Chao, an expert with the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Communist Party-affiliated outlet the Global Times the Camp David Summit “is possibly a starting shot for a new cold war.”
Further Reading
China investigates citizen accused of spying for CIA, security ministry says (Reuters)
Beijing Arrests Chinese National For Allegedly Spying For The CIA (Forbes)
A Defense Agreement Likely to Deepen Chinese Rancor (New York Times)
Fears for people and firms as China’s new anti-espionage law comes into effect (The Guardian)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/08/21/china-says-its-investigating-citizen-accused-of-being-cia-spy/