China Investigates Citizen Accused of Spying for CIA : Security Ministry
13:25 JST, August 21, 2023
BEIJING, Aug 21 (Reuters) – China is investigating a Chinese national accused of spying for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the country’s state security ministry said on Monday.
The 39-year-old Chinese national, surnamed Hao, was a cadre at a ministry and had gone to Japan for studies, which was where the spying recruitment occurred, the ministry said. Hao’s gender was not revealed.
The statement came less than two weeks after the ministry said it uncovered another national also suspected of spying for the CIA after being recruited in Italy. The U.S. embassies in Beijing and Tokyo did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
The ministry said Hao had become acquainted with a U.S. embassy official known as “Ted” while sorting out a visa application. He invited Hao for dinners, presented gifts and sought Hao’s help with writing a paper that Ted promised to pay for, the ministry said.
Ted introduced Hao to a colleague named Li Jun before his term at the embassy in Japan ended, the ministry said; Li and Hao then maintained a “cooperative relationship.”
Before Hao completed studying, Li revealed being Tokyo-based CIA personnel and “instigated Hao into rebelling,” telling Hao to return to China to work for a “core and critical unit.”
Hao signed an espionage agreement, accepting assessment and training from the United States, according to the statement.
The ministry said Hao worked in a national department upon returning, “according to the requirements of the CIA,” and provided the CIA with intelligence while collecting U.S. pay.
Relations between the United States and China have soured in recent years over a range of issues, including national security. Washington has accused Beijing of espionage and cyberattacks, charges China has rejected. China has also declared it is under threat from spies.
China called on its citizens this month to participate in counter-espionage work, after expanding its anti-spying law in July, alarming the United States.
"News Services" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
FBI Identifies Thomas Matthew Crooks as ‘Subject Involved’ in Trump Rally Shooting
-
Donald Trump Whisked off Stage in Pennsylvania after Apparent Gunshots Rang Through the Crowd
-
Japanese Executive among 11 Arrested in Myanmar for Inflating Rice Prices
-
Japan’s Nikkei Reclaims 40,000 Level on Weak Yen, Foreign Buying (UPDATE 1)
-
U.S. President Joe Biden Drops Out of the 2024 Race after Disastrous Debate Inflamed Age Concerns
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Aviation Fuel Shortage Causes Problems at Regional Airports; Growing Demand, Lack of Workers to Transport
- Prices of over 10,000 Food and Beverage Items to Rise This Year; Figure is down from over 30,000 Last Year
- Sony Group to End Production of Blu-ray Discs; Market Has Shrunk Due To Growth Of Hard Disk Drives, Streaming
- Japan Ministry Concerned Over Same-Sex Couple Receiving City-Issued Resident Certificates Referring to ‘Common-Law Husband’
- Japan Court OKs Sex Change without Surgery