A Chinese national working for a military industrial group has been exposed as an alleged CIA operative, as tensions escalate between the United States and China over espionage allegations. The Ministry of State Security in China revealed that a man named Zeng, employed by an unidentified Chinese military company, had access to classified information. According to the ministry, Zeng was sent to Italy for advanced studies, where he was reportedly approached by a US embassy official. Over time, they developed a close relationship, during which the American official revealed himself to be a CIA officer.
The ministry claims that Zeng was offered a substantial amount of money and immigration assistance for his family in exchange for sensitive information regarding the Chinese military. Allegedly, he signed an espionage agreement with the US and received training. Upon completing his studies, Zeng returned to China and had multiple meetings with CIA personnel, providing them with a significant amount of crucial intelligence.
China's Ministry of State Security stated that it has taken compulsory measures against Zeng after obtaining evidence of his espionage activities during an investigation. The case has been subsequently handed over to prosecutors for review and indictment. Last week, two US Navy sailors in California were arrested for allegedly providing sensitive military information to Chinese intelligence officers, further intensifying the espionage rivalry between the two countries.
The Ministry of State Security in China is a secretive civilian agency responsible for overseeing intelligence and counterintelligence operations within China and abroad. While it has drawn comparisons to a combined CIA and FBI, little is publicly known about its activities. Recently, however, it has taken a more prominent role, launching a public account on WeChat, China's popular social media platform, calling on citizens to join the fight against espionage and promising rewards and protection for those who provide information.
This latest revelation comes as US-China relations continue to deteriorate, with both countries accusing each other of espionage. China's ruling Communist Party has long propagated the narrative that foreign forces are trying to undermine the country's ascent, and President Xi Jinping has made state security his top priority. In an effort to combat espionage, China recently expanded its counter-espionage law, further broadening the definition of espionage.
The CIA's operations in China suffered a significant setback in the last decade, with the Chinese government reportedly targeting and either killing or imprisoning more than a dozen sources. In response, the agency has been overhauling its training and management methods for its network of spies, focusing more closely on adversaries like China and Russia.