Two Charged with Spying for China
Two individuals were charged with espionage related to the Communist Party of China (CCP), involving efforts to recruit members of the U.S. Navy for confidential intelligence purposes.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi commented, “This incident highlights the ongoing and systematic attempts by the Chinese government to infiltrate our military and threaten our national security from the inside.” She emphasized that the Department of Justice aims to reveal foreign operatives and safeguard Americans against secret threats.
The recently unsealed indictment reveals accusations against Yuance Chen, 38, and Lilen “Ryan” Rye, 39, who are said to have spied for China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), the agency responsible for civil intelligence operations.
Chen arrived in the U.S. in September 2015 on a B-1/B-2 visitor visa and later became a conditional permanent resident after marrying an American in 2019. By December 2022, he received a green card and lived in Happy Valley, Oregon.
On the other hand, Rye entered the U.S. in April 2023 under the same visitor visa category, stating on his application that he worked for an online retailer in China.
The indictment alleges that in 2021, Chen was recruited by Rye to serve as a spy gathering information on U.S. national security, particularly focusing on the Navy. In January 2022, they reportedly collaborated in Guangzhou on arrangements related to dead drops in Livermore, California, where substantial sums were hidden.
Additionally, Chen and Rye are accused of attempting to recruit U.S. Navy personnel for the CCP. Reports indicate that Rye visited U.S. Navy facilities and recruitment centers in Washington and San Gabriel, California, in 2022 and 2023.
At one recruitment center, Chen allegedly collected personal data on Navy recruits and forwarded it to the MSS. In a particular instance, he reportedly befriended a U.S. Navy employee to access their information.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated, “We have arrested two Chinese citizens who were allegedly trying to recruit U.S. military members for the PRC.” He noted that the CCP believed they could use covert tactics to operate within U.S. borders, but the FBI will continue to be vigilant against such threats.
