CNN —Chinese authorities on Monday publicly accused a government worker of spying for the CIA, the second high-profile espionage case publicized this month as Beijing ramps up its emphasis – and rhetoric – on national security.
The 39-year-old Chinese national, identified only by his surname Hao, became acquainted with a US embassy official in Japan while applying for a US visa, the ministry said.
Upon returning to China, Hao landed a job at a government ministry, and allegedly met with CIA agents multiple times to “provide intelligence and collect espionage funds,” the Chinese spy agency claimed.
The secretive agency, which overseas intelligence and counterintelligence both within China and overseas, has taken on a higher profile to warn the Chinese public against espionage.
Earlier in August, two US Navy sailors in California were arrested for allegedly providing sensitive US military information to Chinese intelligence officers.
Persons:
Hao, ” Hao, ”, Xi Jinping
Organizations:
CNN, CIA, Ministry of State Security, US
Locations:
Beijing, Japan, China, Italy, WeChat, United States, California