Current:Home > MyChina arrests military industry worker on accusations of spying for the CIA-InfoLens
China arrests military industry worker on accusations of spying for the CIA
View Date:2024-12-23 14:45:25
China has detained a worker from a military industrial group on suspicion of spying for the CIA, Chinese national security authorities said Friday, adding to the list of public accusations of espionage between Beijing and Washington.
The Ministry of State Security, the country's civilian spy agency, said in a statement that a military industrial worker surnamed Zeng had been providing military secrets to the CIA in exchange for large sums of money.
The 52-year-old suspect had been sent to Italy to study by his employer. There, he met "an official with the U.S. embassy," who later turned out to be a CIA agent, the ministry claimed.
"Zeng gradually developed a psychological dependence on (the U.S. official), who took the opportunity to indoctrinate him with Western values," said the statement, posted on the ministry's WeChat social media page.
It said the U.S. official promised the Chinese suspect large amounts of money and to help his family emigrate to the United States in exchange for sensitive information about China's military, which the worker had access to through his job.
"Having finished overseas study, Zeng returned to China and continued to have multiple secret meetings with the CIA agents and provided a great amount of key intelligence and collected funds for spying," the ministry said.
It added that the suspect had been detained and the case was being further investigated.
The CIA declined to comment on the allegations.
CIA Director William Burns has spoken publicly about efforts to enhance the agency's intelligence collection abilities in China. "We've made progress and we're working very hard over recent years to ensure that we have a strong human intelligence capability to complement what we can acquire through other methods," he said at the Aspen Security Conference last month.
China's announcement is the latest in a string of public accusations of espionage between Washington and Beijing.
Last week, the U.S. arrested two U.S. Navy sailors on accusations of providing military secrets to China.
Relations between China and the U.S. plunged to their lowest level in years after the U.S. earlier this year shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that had flown over U.S. territory.
- In:
- China
veryGood! (249)
Related
- Wheel of Fortune Contestant Goes Viral Over His Hilariously Wrong Answer
- 5 people killed in a 4-vehicle chain reaction crash on central Utah highway
- Reese Witherspoon's Son Tennessee Is Her Legally Blonde Twin in Sweet Birthday Tribute
- Ariana Madix Weighs in on Vanderpump Rules' Uncertain Future—and the Only Costars She Talks to
- The results are in: Peanut the Squirrel did not have rabies, county official says
- New Orleans, US Justice Department move to end police department’s consent decree
- Rescuers save and assist hundreds as Helene’s storm surge and rain create havoc
- Chappell Roan cancels 2 festival performances: 'Things have gotten overwhelming'
- NFL MVP rankings: Does Steelers QB Russell Wilson deserve any consideration?
- Joliet, Illinois, Plans to Source Its Future Drinking Water From Lake Michigan. Will Other Cities Follow?
Ranking
- What do nails have to say about your health? Experts answer your FAQs.
- House explosion that killed 2 linked to propane system, authorities say
- As political scandal grips NYC, a fictional press conference puzzles some New Yorkers
- Opinion: Learning signs of mental health distress may help your young athlete
- Utah AD Mark Harlan rips officials following loss to BYU, claims game was 'stolen from us'
- Nicole Evers-Everette, granddaughter of civil rights leaders, found after being reported missing
- Teen wrestler mourned after sudden death at practice in Massachusetts
- Cowboys find much-needed 'joy' in win over Giants after gut check of two losses
Recommendation
-
The state that cleared the way for sports gambling now may ban ‘prop’ bets on college athletes
-
Trees down: Augusta National 'assessing the effects' of Hurricane Helene
-
Here's how Lionel Messi, Inter Miami can win second title together as early as Wednesday
-
NMSU football play-caller Tyler Wright's social media has dozens of racist, sexist posts
-
Louisville officials mourn victims of 'unthinkable' plant explosion amid investigation
-
House explosion that killed 2 linked to propane system, authorities say
-
A rare condor hatched and raised by foster parents in captivity will soon get to live wild
-
Celebrity dog Swaggy Wolfdog offers reward for safe return of missing $100,000 chain