The Trump administration apprehended two more individuals from China on Friday as part of its ongoing initiative against espionage linked to the Chinese Communist Party.
The FBI detained Yuance Chen, a resident of Oregon, and Liren Lai, who entered Texas on a tourist visa back in April. This was detailed in a statement from the Department of Justice.
“The individuals charged were operating under the direction of foreign intelligence agencies, contributing to the wider attempts by the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate and destabilize our systems,” the announcement read.
According to the DOJ, the detainees are suspected of being agents for the CCP’s Department of National Security, collecting intelligence on U.S. Navy personnel and installations.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized that this event highlights the persistent and proactive measures taken by the Chinese government to breach military security and threaten national safety.
The two men are also alleged to have tried recruiting military members for similar covert activities involving the Ministry of State Security (MSS), reportedly visiting naval facilities in Washington and California over the past two years. During these visits, Chen allegedly photographed message boards that included crucial names, sending them to an MSS intelligence officer.
They purportedly arranged a $10,000 cash drop for the MSS, coordinating with contacts in the U.S. to leave funds in a locker in Livermore, California.
Records suggest Lai had hired Chen back in 2021 for work with China’s intelligence reporting division.
The arrests were made with assistance from the Navy Criminal Investigation Bureau.
If convicted, the men could face up to 10 years behind bars and a fine as high as $250,000.
FBI Director Kash Patel remarked, “Today’s arrests reaffirm our dedication to safeguarding national security and the integrity of the military.”
He further asserted that these individuals were acting on behalf of adversarial foreign agencies, as part of a broader strategy by the Chinese Communist Party to compromise U.S. operations.
In a separate announcement earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the administration would actively revoke the student visas of individuals pursuing studies in sensitive fields connected to the CCP or suspected espionage.
Since then, multiple Chinese nationals have been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle biomaterials into the U.S.
