WASHINGTON, D.C., July 2 (ANI): The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested two Chinese nationals on charges of espionage against the United States Navy and attempting to recruit American service members on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party’s intelligence agency, the Ministry of State Security (MSS).
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the arrests late Tuesday, warning that any acts of espionage on US soil will be met with full force. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Patel stated, “Two Chinese nationals were caught spying on our Navy and trying to recruit American service members for the CCP’s intel service. Our FBI won’t stand for it. We tracked them, we stopped them, and we’re not done yet. Espionage on U.S. soil will be met with full force.”
According to the US Department of Justice, the two suspects—Yuance Chen, a resident of Happy Valley, Oregon, and Liren Lai, who arrived in Houston on a tourist visa in April 2025—were arrested on Friday. Both individuals are accused of executing clandestine intelligence operations on behalf of the MSS.
The charges include recruiting US military personnel for espionage, gathering intelligence on naval bases and service members, and conducting a covert “dead drop” to deliver cash payments tied to their espionage activities.
“These arrests reflect the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protecting our national security and safeguarding the integrity of our military,” said Director Patel in a statement to Fox News. “The individuals charged were acting on behalf of a hostile foreign intelligence service — part of the Chinese Communist Party’s broader effort to infiltrate and undermine our institutions. Thanks to outstanding coordination with our partners, including NCIS, we disrupted those efforts and sent a clear message: the United States will not tolerate espionage on American soil.”
Chen was arrested at his residence in Oregon, while Lai was taken into custody in Houston with the assistance of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). The FBI noted that both arrests were made following a coordinated investigation involving multiple federal agencies.
The DOJ revealed that the MSS is China’s primary civilian intelligence agency responsible for foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, and political security. According to a criminal complaint filed in the Northern District of California, the MSS routinely targets US institutions, including the military, to gather strategic intelligence.
Officials stressed that the Chinese government continues to pursue aggressive tactics to penetrate US defenses using a variety of intelligence-gathering methods. These arrests, they say, underscore the need for continued vigilance against foreign espionage threats.
The suspects are expected to face prosecution under federal espionage and national security laws. Further details regarding the specific information targeted or obtained by the two men have not yet been disclosed. The investigation remains ongoing. (ANI)
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