China investigates citizen accused of spying for CIA

China has launched an investigation into the alleged spying of a Chinese citizen for the US Central Intelligence Agency.

Chinese state television channel CCTV confirmed on August 21 that Chinese authorities were investigating a citizen suspected of spying for the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Chinese national security officials announced on August 11 that they discovered that a citizen surnamed Zeng, who used to work for a military industrial group, had been recruited by a CIA officer in Italy.

Through dinners, outings and operas, Zeng and the CIA agent developed a close relationship, with Zeng gradually becoming "psychologically dependent" on the CIA agent, according to Chinese security officials.

"After successfully shaking Zeng's political stance, the CIA agent sought sensitive information about the Chinese military from Zeng," Chinese officials added, without specifying when the incident took place.

Chinese police in Luoyang, Henan province. Photo: Reuters

Zeng allegedly signed an espionage agreement with the US and was trained before returning to China. He was also promised huge sums of money and the ability to immigrate to the US with his family in exchange for information from China.

The statement did not specify Zeng's gender but said he was born in 1971 and that the CIA agent's name was Seth.

The US has not yet responded to the incident.

Washington also arrested two navy sailors, Wenheng Zhao and Jinchao Wei, earlier this month on charges of passing classified US military information to the Chinese government.

US-China relations have been tense for years over issues such as trade, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the origin of Covid-19. Both countries have also accused each other of espionage activities against each other.

Ngoc Anh (According to Reuters )

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