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A Chinese Woman Contacted with Many Politicians in the U.S. and Have Close Relationship, Suspected to Collect Political Intelligence and to Sway Their Decision-Making

A year-long investigation by Axios reported that a Chinese woman with a surname Fang suspected of being a Chinese intelligence officer. She grew close to local political powers and conducted political intelligence missions by assisting with campaign fundraising, participating in political gatherings, and having relationships or sex with at least two Midwestern mayors while studying in California between 2011 and 2015.

While studying in California State University East Bay in 2011, Fang served as a president of the school's Chinese Student Association and a president of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (APAPA) campus chapter. Through political gatherings, civil society conferences, campaign rallies, and campus events, she came into contact with elected officials and other prominent figures, such as incumbent California Statewomen Ro Khanna and Judy Chu, and Hawaii U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who ran for California's district. She also involved in romantic or sexual relationships with at least two mayors for approximately three years. The FBI spotted her having sexual intercourse with elected officials on at least twice.

According to the report, her ultimate target was California U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell. Fang participated in Swalwell's re-election campaign in 2014 and arranged at least one intern in his office. Fang kept interacting with Swalwell several times in several years, until FBI agents alerted him in 2015, after which he severed his ties. She abruptly left the States and returned to China in the same year. However, she did not return to the U.S. nor even contacted her friends in the U.S. or the social networks she has built over the years; Axios inquired her via email and Facebook but had no response.

#US #espionage #China #FBI #Axios #EricSwalwell #SecualRelationship #Spy #Intelligence #CCP

Source: Stand News #Dec09

https://bit.ly/3scLpUk
Singaporean Spies on US for China, Arrested on Return

Dickson Jun Wei Yeo, a Singaporean citizen who admitted to collecting sensitive information about the US for Chinese intelligence agencies and jailed in America, was arrested upon return to Singapore after serving his sentence. In a statement released on 30 December, Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD) said Yeo had been arrested and would be questioned to see if he had engaged in activities that endanger Singapore’s national security.

In their statement, the ISD stressed that the Singaporean government “takes a very serious view on any Singaporean who enters into a clandestine relationship with a foreign government and engages in espionage or subversive activities at the behest of the foreign power”. They said that the authorities would not allow “nationals to be subverted or used by any foreign actors for activities prejudicial to our security and national interests”.

Source: Stand News #Dec30

#Singapore #US #China #NationalSecurity #Espionage

https://bit.ly/2NycukN
An Espionage War: Afghanistan detains 10 Chinese spies suspected of plotting assassination against Uighur leader, urges China to apologise

The Afghan intelligence department announced the recent bust of a Chinese spy team with 10 Chinese nationals arrested. At least two of them have ties with the Taliban branch "Haqqani", with weapons, ammunition, explosives and Ketamine seized from the mastermind's apartment. The Afghan government said the Chinese spies are suspected of committing espionage crimes, allegedly collecting Uighur intelligence in Afghanistan and cooperating with Pakistani spy agencies to engage in terrorist activities, and demanded an apology from the Chinese authorities.

Disguised as an East Turkistan branch to lure Uighurs into traps

The arrested Chinese spy team leader, Li YangYang, who had been working for Chinese intelligence since around July-August, primarily sought information on Al Qaeda and investigated possible Uighur activity in Afghanistan's eastern provinces. He was arrested in his apartment near Kabul on Dec. 10. Another person arrested was reportedly a woman named Sha Hung, the owner of a restaurant in Kabul, in whose residence investigators found explosives.

Sources said that Sha Hung and Li Yangyang were both associated with Haqqani. They joined other Chinese spies to disguise themselves as an offshoot of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement to recruit Uighurs opposed to the Chinese government, as an attempt to "eliminate" Uighur leaders hiding in Afghanistan with the help of terrorists. Some of the Uighurs who fled China would go to Afghanistan, and the Chinese government would also immediately detain any Uighurs entering China from Afghanistan. Sources said that Beijing had previously held secret meetings with the Taliban about the Uighurs.

Source: Apple Daily #Dec27

#Uighurs #China #Afghanistan #Espionage #Taliban #EastTurkestanIslamicMovement

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201227/KIED4CBZTRAX5GQYCHMQEPFBB4/
UK expelled 3 Chinese spies who posed as journalist to cover up their identity as intelligence officer of the China's Ministry of State Security

UK newspaper “The Telegraph” reported on Thursday that Britain has expelled 3 Chinese spies who arrived under journalist visas.

The report cited source from the UK government that the 3 intelligence officers of the Ministry of State Security pretended that they worked for 3 Chinese media entities. They were forcibly repatriate to China after their true identities were uncovered by MI5.

Reuters said that the report has not been verified independently.

Also on Thursday, Ofcom announced to revocation of Chinese Global Television Network (CGTN) license in the UK. CGTN is a media owned by China Central Radio and Television, the China official broadcaster, which has been accused of questionable reporting practice such as repeatedly airing forced confession videos. In year 2019, CGTN has multiple reports on the Hong Kong Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement, and five of them have been ruled biased by Ofcom.

Source: Stand News #Feb05

https://bit.ly/2N2rZ4y

#Expel #Espionage #Spy #China #MinistryOfStateSecurity #CGTN #ChinaCentralRadioAndTelevision #Ofcom #HongKongAntiExtraditionLawMovement
Canada-China Relations: Trudeau hopes for the release of two Canadian citizens before New Year; government sources have yet to receive any new information

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday he hoped for good news soon about two citizens who have been detained in China for the last two years.

Canadian police picked up Huawei Technologies Co Ltd Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant in December 2018. Shortly after, China arrested businessman Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig on espionage charges, which Canada has described as a case of hostage diplomacy.

Asked by Global News whether he thought there would be good news for the men’s families before the New Year, Trudeau replied: “I certainly hope so,” and said, “they are just an inspiration to me ... we’re doing everything we can, both directly with China and with allies.”

Canada has consistently said the return of the two men is its top foreign policy priority. However, sources said they had not heard of any recent developments.

#Canada #China #espionage #Huawei #Trudeau #diplomacy

Source: Apple Daily #Dec17

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201217/YY5UVG2JAFBO7CX7C23576LMOU/
CCP Member in Suspicion of Infiltration through Embassies. Scholar: Shanghai is the Hub for China's Espionage Activities

Chinese government’s infiltration by the CCP members in foreign countries catches foreign attention. Followed by The Mail on Sunday from the UK revealing that CCP members have served in British academy and other occupations, Australia newspaper, The Australian reported that at least ten foreign embassies in Shanghai, including Australia, the UK and the US, were suspected being infiltrated by CCP members. Embassies employ CCP members as senior political and government affairs officials, clerk, economic advisors, and administrative assistant. They are employed by foreign embassies that may be a portion of the "state-sponsored spy network".

Employees in Foreign Embassies are Employed Through Chinese Government Agencies

The Australian reported that at least ten countries' embassies in Shanghai are hiring or have hired CCP members as senior administrative and government affairs officials, clerks, economic advisors, and administrative assistants. These countries include Australia, the US, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, India, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, etc.

#China #ChineseEmbassy #CCP #Shanghai #Espionage #TheMailonSunday #TheAustralian

Source: Apple Daily #Dec14

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201214/2NNXARYBFFAQNLQ3SDJWOXJOZ4/
Australian-Chinese writer who has been arrested for more than two years, was charged with espionage and tried in Beijing. His wife and Australian ambassador to China were refused to attend 
 
Australian-Chinese writer Yang Hengjun detained by the Chinese authority for more than two years and charged with espionage. The case was being heard in Beijing No.2 Intermediate People’s Court this morning, and it is expected that it will take at least one day for deliberation. Fu Guanhan, Australia ambassador to China attended but being refused to listen due to pandemic reason.  
 
Some reporters at the scene posted photos outside of court on the social platform Twitter before the trial, however there were multiple police being alerted. After Australia ambassador to China Fu Guanhan was refused to attend the court hearing, he told the out-of-court media, “Unfortunately, we have just been refused entry into the courtroom on the grounds of epidemic, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that the case involves national security, so we are not allowed to listen”. Reuters quoted the friends of Yang and stated, Yang’s wife Yuan Ruijuan was also being refused to enter. 
 
Source: Stand News #May27

 https://bit.ly/2SdNhz3
 
#Australia #China #writer #Beijing #Espionage #Pandemic #Trial #NationalSecurity #Reuters  
Taiwan arrested two retired air force officers, reportedly had contacts with Hong Kong businessman and spy for China

According to Taiwan media reports, a retired Air Force major general and a retired lieutenant colonel suspected of breaching the Taiwan National Security Act were arrested. They were accused of involving in a spy ring in Taiwan, which were organised by a businessman from Hong Kong, surnamed Tse, appointed by the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission (Guangzhou division). Tse secretly build up relationships with retired military officers, including these two suspects, for China under the guise of doing business in Taiwan. The Taiwan media described this as “the largest espionage case in the history”.

Taiwan Apple Daily quoted source as saying that the investigation unit found that the Guangzhou branch of Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission sent a Hong Kong businessman surnamed Tse to Taiwan since 2012, under the pretext of business but recruiting crews for China intelligence unit in reality. The businessman contacted Chien Yao-tung and Wei Hsien-yi in 2016 and start to cultivate relationships with active and retired senior military officers. Besides of arranging banquets and gifts, the military officers were also invited to visit Guangdong to meet China officials.

Source: Stand News #Aug19

https://bit.ly/3DPVmN3

#Taiwan #Airforce #MilitaryOfficer #China #Spy #Espionage
#UK #CCPThreat
MI5 accuses lawyer of trying to influence politicians on behalf of China

An unprecedented security warning from MI5 was circulated to MPs and peers on Thursday that accused a lawyer, Christine Lee, of seeking to improperly influence parliamentarians on behalf of China’s ruling Communist party.

It is the first time that MI5 has issued an “interference alert” relating to China and concerns a high-profile Anglo-Chinese lawyer who received an award from Theresa May and who has donated £584,177 to the office of Labour MP and former shadow cabinet member Barry Gardiner.

The alert names and pictures Christine Ching Kui Lee, who has allegedly “knowingly engaged in political interference activities on behalf of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Chinese Communist party”.

It added that the UFWD was “seeking to covertly interfere in UK politics through establishing links with established and aspiring parliamentarians across the political spectrum” and to “cultivate relationships with influential figures”.

Read the full article:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/13/chinese-national-trying-to-improperly-influence-politicians-says-mi5

Source: Guardian #Jan13

#SecurityBreach #Espionage #Lawyer
Chinese Mobile Phones May Send User Data to China, Belgium Warns

Belgian justice minister Vincent #VanQuickenborne has warned that mobile phones made by Chinese brands may pose spying risks to users, Le Soir reported.

Given the laws under which Chinese #smartphones are produced, Van Quickenborne said, the data they hold may be sent to the Chinese authorities or exposed to #espionage.

According to Le Soir’s report, Chinese law requires companies to store their data on Chinese servers and grant the Chinese authorities access to the IT system.

While #Europe has been slower than the US in its crackdown on Chinese telecom firms, Sino-European relations have become increasingly tense following #China ’s sanctions against Lithuania and as fears of espionage and data theft grow.

#Belgium had previously cautioned athletes attending the #BeijingWinterOlympics against hackers.

Source: Technews #Feb15

https://technews.tw/2022/02/15/huawei-xiaomi-china/
#ChineseSpy
Former U.S. Military Pilot Admits Acting as Paid Agent of China and Lying on National Security Background Forms

// Shapour Moinian, 67, of San Diego, is a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot-turned-civilian-contractor. He pleaded guilty in federal court on June 23, 2022, admitting that he acted as an unregistered agent of China and accepted thousands of dollars from representatives of the Chinese government to provide aviation-related information from his defense-contractor employers.

He also pleaded guilty to making related false statements during national security background checks.//

Read more:
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-us-military-pilot-admits-acting-paid-agent-china-and-lying-national-security

Source: US Justice #Jun23

#NationalSecurity #Espionage #Bribe #ChineseAgent
FBI investigation determined Chinese-made #Huawei equipment could disrupt US nuclear arsenal communications

//In 2017, the Chinese government was offering to spend $100 million to build an ornate Chinese garden at the #NationalArboretum in Washington DC. Complete with temples, pavilions and a 70-foot white pagoda, the project thrilled local officials, who hoped it would attract thousands of tourists every year.      

But when US counterintelligence officials began digging into the details, they found numerous red flags. The pagoda, they noted, would have been strategically placed on one of the highest points in #WashingtonDC, just two miles from the #USCapitol, a perfect spot for signals intelligence collection, multiple sources familiar with the episode told CNN.  

Also alarming was that Chinese officials wanted to build the pagoda with materials shipped to the US in diplomatic pouches, which #USCustoms officials are barred from examining, the sources said...

Among the most alarming things the #FBI uncovered pertains to Chinese-made Huawei equipment atop cell towers near US military bases in the rural Midwest. According to multiple sources familiar with the matter, the FBI determined the equipment was capable of capturing and disrupting highly restricted Defense Department communications, including those used by US Strategic Command, which oversees the country's nuclear weapons....//

Read the full article:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/23/politics/fbi-investigation-huawei-china-defense-department-communications-nuclear/index.html

Source: CNN #Jul23

#CNNExclusive
#ChinaThreat #MadeinChina #Security #Espionage #ChineseGarden
#China Targeted #US Federal Reserve system to Build Informant Network and Access #Data, Probe Finds

//China tried to build a network of informants inside the Federal Reserve system, at one point threatening to imprison a Fed economist during a trip to Shanghai unless he agreed to provide nonpublic economic data, a congressional investigation found.

The investigation by Republican staff members of the Senate’s Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs found that Fed employees were offered contracts with Chinese talent-recruitment programs, which often include cash payments, and asked to provide information on the U.S. economy, interest-rate changes and policies, according to a report of the findings released Tuesday [July 26, 2022].//

Read more:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-targeted-fed-to-build-informant-network-access-data-a-probe-says-11658826000

Source: WSJ #Jul26

#Espionage #Beijing #Security #Infiltration #FED