Summary
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged two Chinese citizens with spying and attempting to recruit people from within the U.S. military. These individuals, Yuance Chen and Liren “Ryan” Lai, allegedly worked for China’s Ministry of State Security and gathered intelligence on behalf of China.
Key Facts
- The two men accused are Yuance Chen, 38, and Liren “Ryan” Lai, 39.
- They allegedly worked for China's Ministry of State Security, which handles intelligence.
- The charges include spying and trying to recruit U.S. military personnel.
- Chen is a legal permanent resident of the U.S. and was developed as an asset by Lai around 2021.
- They reportedly left $10,000 in cash in a locker as payment for intelligence.
- Chen collected information about the U.S. Navy, including sensitive details from Navy employees.
- Both men were charged under the Foreign Agent Registration Act, which requires foreign agents to register with the U.S.
- This case highlights ongoing concerns about Chinese espionage efforts.
