'Threats to national security': US charges two Chinese nationals with spying; slams Beijing for trying to 'infiltrate military'

The United States on Wednesday charged two Chinese nationals with spying for Beijing. The charges include photographing a naval base, arranging a secret cash drop, and attempting to recruit US military personnel they believed could be persuaded to assist Chinese intelligence.

"This case underscores the Chinese government's sustained and aggressive effort to infiltrate our military and undermine our national security from within,” attorney general Pam Bondi was quoted saying in a statement by AP.

“The Justice Department will not stand by while hostile nations embed spies in our country -- we will expose foreign operatives, hold their agents to account, and protect the American people from covert threats to our national security,” Bondi said.

Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said he was unaware of the details of the case but dismissed the claims against China as baseless, saying there were “no facts or evidence” to support them. He also accused the US of consistently conducting espionage operations against China.

What are the charges against the two?

Authorities have charged two men, Yuance Chen, 38, a Chinese national who came to the US on a visa in 2015 and later gained permanent residency, and Liren “Ryan” Lai, 39, who lives in China but visited Texas earlier this year to oversee covert operations for China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS).

Prosecutors say Lai began cultivating Chen as an intelligence asset as early as mid-2021. Together, they allegedly coordinated the transfer of at least $10,000 in cash through a secret dead-drop, conducted surveillance of a Navy recruiting station in California and a naval base in Washington state, including taking and transmitting photos to Chinese intelligence, and sought to identify and recruit US navy personnel to spy for China.

Chen is accused of gathering personal details about Navy recruits, particularly those with ties to China, and sharing that information with Chinese handlers to assess potential espionage prospects.

Both were arrested for allegedly acting on behalf of Beijing without registering as foreign agents with the US justice department, as required by law.