The United States (US) Department of Justice has charged two Chinese nationals with conducting espionage operations on behalf of the Chinese government. The charges center on efforts to collect intelligence from the US Navy and recruit individuals with access to sensitive military information.
Who are the individuals charged in the US-China espionage case?
Yuance Chen, 38, and Liren “Ryan” Lai, 39, have been accused of acting as unregistered foreign agents for China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), the country’s main intelligence agency. The Department of Justice revealed the charges on Tuesday, stating the two men attempted to infiltrate US military circles to gather classified information, in violation of the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA).
According to an FBI affidavit, Chen traveled to San Diego, California, where he met a Navy employee, toured the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, and posed for photos on the ship’s deck. These interactions were allegedly part of a broader MSS strategy to acquire intelligence on US naval operations, media reports said.
What information did they allegedly try to collect?
The affidavit claims the suspects sought personal data on Navy personnel and other intelligence related to the United States’ blue-water naval capabilities. “The PRC [People’s Republic of China] government seeks blue-water naval capabilities as part of their effort to modernize their navy and establish hegemony in the South China Sea,” the document states.
Blue-water navy refers to a maritime force capable of operating globally, far from home ports. The FBI asserts that China’s MSS has targeted the US Navy as part of its effort to strengthen the Chinese military’s long-distance maritime operations.
How has the US responded to Chinese espionage efforts?
Both suspects were charged under FARA, which mandates that individuals working on behalf of foreign governments must register with the US. In recent years, US authorities have increased the use of this law to combat what they describe as expanding Chinese espionage.
“These charges reflect the breadth of the efforts by our foreign adversaries to target the United States,” said US Attorney Craig H Missakian. “We will continue to undertake counterespionage investigations and prosecutions, no matter how complex and sensitive, to disrupt attempts to weaken our national security.”
Beijing has consistently denied allegations of espionage and accused Washington of discrimination against Chinese nationals.