The incident, currently under investigation, is related to a 39-year-old individual identified as Hao, who was employed by an unspecified ministry, according to information from the Ministry of State Security (MSS) in an official statement.
Hao, while studying in Japan, came into contact with a US embassy employee during a visa application, establishing what is described as “a close relationship.” According to the ministry, this US employee facilitated the connection between Hao and a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agent, who apparently managed to persuade Hao to collaborate in espionage activities on behalf of the US agency.
According to the version provided by the MSS, Hao would have signed an agreement and received training on US soil before receiving guidelines to seek employment in the Chinese government. During his employment, Hao reportedly held confidential meetings with CIA personnel inside the country for the purpose of providing intelligence information and raising funds for espionage activities. This alleged action would have continued until his eventual detection, as asserted by the ministry.
At the beginning of August, the MSS had already announced a similar case of espionage related to the CIA, involving a 52-year-old individual named Zeng, who would have delivered “important confidential information” in exchange for financial compensation.
This disclosure comes as Beijing has implemented a revised version of its anti-espionage law, giving authorities broader power to punish what they see as threats to national security. This review has raised concerns among various US companies operating in China, especially at a time when bilateral relations between the two nations have experienced significant tensions.