Two Charged With Spying on U.S. Navy for China

Two Chinese nationals, Yuance Chen and Liren 'Ryan' Lai, were arrested in a coordinated FBI operation and charged with acting as unregistered agents for China's Ministry of State Security (MSS), beginning their espionage activities in 2021. The Justice Department alleges they attempted to infiltrate the U.S. military, recruit Navy personnel as intelligence assets, and gathered intelligence on Navy bases through clandestine actions such as cash 'dead drops,' including a $10,000 payment left in a California locker. Attorney General Pamela Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel stated that these arrests underscore China's aggressive attempts to undermine U.S. national security. The FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Service conducted multi-state investigations leading to the arrests. Both men face up to 10 years in prison and significant fines if convicted. The case highlights ongoing U.S. concerns about Chinese espionage targeting American military secrets.