Chinese director accused of ‘spying for two countries’

China’s Ministry of Public Security said on August 31 that Zhang, a senior leader of a defense commercial company, was arrested for leaking sensitive information to the intelligence agencies of two unnamed countries.

China often releases information about citizens accused of working for foreign intelligence agencies, but it is extremely rare for a director to cooperate with the intelligence of two different countries at the same time.

According to China’s Ministry of Public Security, Zhang has studied abroad for a long time and is fluent in many foreign languages. After returning home, this person was highly appreciated by the company and was regularly in charge of the business’s international trade activities.

Chinese officials said Zhang was first recruited by foreign intelligence many years ago, after meeting a diplomat named Lucas of “country A”. Lucas complimented Zhang’s foreign language skills and expertise, and the two then exchanged contacts.

A few months later, Lucas asked Zhang to translate several pages of technical documents for a fee of several hundred dollars. Zhang accepted the offer without knowing he was falling into a trap, China’s Ministry of Public Security said.

As translation requests became more frequent and more remunerative, Lucas began searching for sensitive information related to China’s arms imports, as well as the missions of the country’s defense companies.

“Even after realizing that Lucas was likely an intelligence agent, Zhang continued to cooperate out of greed and belief that he would not be detected,” China’s Ministry of Public Security said. “Zhang then leaked the information verbally and in writing, receiving tens of thousands of dollars in compensation.”

While working with country A, Zhang was targeted by country B’s intelligence during a business trip abroad. Zhang knew country B’s embassy employee named Mike, who assisted him with the visa application procedure “which was intentionally delayed”.

Mike then introduced Zhang to Sarah, who was the same age as him. Sarah approached and built a close personal relationship with Zhang, then revealed herself to be a foreign intelligence agent and asked him for sensitive information.

In addition to the generous remuneration, Sarah also said that country B would take Zhang out of China if he was exposed. This convinced Zhang to provide secret documents about Chinese weapons.

After being arrested, Zhang admitted all charges, saying “this day will eventually come, it’s too late to regret it now”.

China’s Ministry of Public Security warned of the risk of foreign intelligence using personal relationships and money as bait to recruit Chinese citizens to work in various fields, from military experts to defense company employees. This agency calls on people to be wary of the trap that is being laid step by step, when spies gradually increase their requests from harmless things to national secrets.