In a new case exposing the lengths our foreign adversaries will go to infiltrate and undermine our national security, two Chinese nationals have been arrested for espionage against the United States military, raising grave concerns.
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As the details of this case unfold, they shed light on the wake-up call we must heed to protect our military personnel from mounting threats.
Yuance Chen and Liren “Ryan” Lai, two Chinese nationals, were arrested in connection with conducting espionage activities for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) without notifying the U.S. Attorney General.
Chen was apprehended in Happy Valley, Oregon, while Lai was caught in Houston, Texas.
This coordinated operation conducted by the FBI and NCIS was instrumental in thwarting an elaborate network designed to compromise U.S. national security.
The duo allegedly facilitated a series of covert intelligence activities under the PRC’s Ministry of State Security (MSS).
Their operations included dead drop payments for national security information and attempting to recruit U.S. service members through social media.
One eye-opening development was the alleged photographing of bulletins containing personal data of Navy recruits.
Arrested on charges of acting as agents of the PRC without proper registration, Chen and Lai face significant legal consequences.
If convicted, the sentence includes up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
This case is a striking reminder of the ongoing threat foreign intelligence services pose to our nation, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
“The Chinese Communist Party thought they were getting away with their scheme to operate on U.S. soil, utilizing spy craft, like dead drops, to pay their sources,” he said.
Patel acknowledged the case as a testament to the FBI’s robust counterintelligence efforts.
“These charges reflect the breadth of the efforts by our foreign adversaries to target the United States — this time by conducting illegal intelligence-gathering operations aimed at our national security information and military service members,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California.
“My office and the FBI remain ever vigilant in guarding against these threats to the United States. We will continue to undertake counterespionage investigations and prosecutions, no matter how complex and sensitive, to disrupt attempts to weaken our national security,” Missakian added.
The case has sparked diplomatic tensions, with China refuting the allegations and accusing the U.S. of espionage.
However, the evidence gathered signifies a serious breach of trust and security, reiterating the necessity for stringent counterintelligence operations.
The Department of Justice, led by U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian, continues to highlight the strategic importance of disrupting such covert operations.
This incident underscores the urgency for heightened awareness and vigilance regarding the infiltration tactics employed by foreign spies.
“This case underscores the Chinese government’s sustained and aggressive effort to infiltrate our military and undermine our national security from within,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.
“The Justice Department will not stand by while hostile nations embed spies in our country – we will expose foreign operatives, hold their agents to account, and protect the American people from covert threats to our national security,” she added.
Two Chinese Nationals Yuance Chen and Liren Lai were arrested for spying on US Navy facilities, and recruiting other military members for China Ministry of State Security (MSS).
This should serve as a wake up call to US national security – The Trojan horse scheme in US army is… pic.twitter.com/pgUgRf2dic— The Great Translation Movement 大翻译运动 (@TGTM_Official) July 2, 2025
