The U.S. Department of Justice has charged two Chinese nationals with acting as covert agents of the Ministry of State Security, alleging they conducted espionage activities within the United States. The individuals, Yuance Chen and Liren Lai, were arrested in separate operations with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.According to court documents, the two men are accused of gathering information on United States Navy personnel and facilities, as well as attempting to recruit service members to work for Chinese intelligence. Authorities allege that their activities included photographing sensitive information and communicating with contacts linked to China’s intelligence network.
Investigators also claim the suspects facilitated a “dead drop” cash payment as part of their operations and coordinated with intelligence officers abroad. The complaint outlines alleged efforts to identify individuals with potential ties to China and to establish contact through both in-person visits and online communication.
Officials emphasized that the case reflects ongoing concerns about foreign intelligence efforts targeting U.S. institutions. If convicted, both individuals could face significant penalties, including fines and prison time. The case underscores continued counterintelligence efforts aimed at protecting national security and military operations.
