Daijiworld Media Network – Beijing

Beijing, Jul 3: China has pushed back against the growing ‘Chinese spy’ narrative after two of its nationals were arrested in the United States for allegedly conducting espionage and trying to recruit US Navy personnel as intelligence assets.

Responding to the arrests, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday that Beijing was unaware of the case's details but strongly opposed what it called “unfounded hype.” “We will take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens,” she added at a regular press briefing.

The US Justice Department on Tuesday said Yuance Chen (38), a resident of Happy Valley, and Liren “Ryan” Lai (39), who arrived in Houston on a tourist visa in April, were arrested by the FBI on Friday. They face charges of acting as agents of the Chinese government, carrying a maximum prison sentence of 10 years if convicted.

According to a criminal complaint, Lai began working with China’s Ministry of State Security in 2021 and later recruited Chen, a legal permanent US resident, to conduct intelligence operations. The duo reportedly facilitated a $10,000 "dead-drop payment" in a Northern California locker in 2022 in return for classified national security information already passed to Chinese intelligence.

US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the case reflects a sustained and aggressive attempt by the Chinese government to infiltrate the US military and compromise national security.