Caught in the Crosshairs: How Two Tourists Became Spy Suspects

In a case that underscores the growing concerns over foreign espionage on American soil, two Chinese nationals have been arrested and charged with acting as covert agents of the Chinese government to gather intelligence on U.S. Navy personnel and operations.

The men, identified as Yuance Chen, a resident of Oregon, and Liren Lai, a Chinese visitor on a tourist visa, were apprehended on Friday, June 28, 2025, by the FBI with assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).

According to a criminal complaint filed in the Northern District of California, both men allegedly worked under the direction of the Ministry of State Security (MSS).

MSS is China’s primary intelligence agency.

Prosecutors allege that Chen and Lai were involved in:

• recruiting U.S. military personnel,
• collecting sensitive information about naval operations, and,
• delivering cash payments on behalf of the MSS through covert “dead drop” tactics.

A Deepening National Security Concern

The case highlights long-standing fears in Washington over China’s global espionage activities, particularly in relation to its ongoing attempts to infiltrate the U.S. military and critical infrastructure.

“Hostile foreign intelligence services like the PRC’s Ministry of State Security dedicate years to recruiting individuals and cultivating them as intelligence assets to do their bidding within the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.

The FBI has not issued a formal comment to the media.

On the other hand, FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized in a statement to Fox News Digital that the arrests reflect the Bureau’s “unwavering commitment to protecting our national security and safeguarding the integrity of our military.”

Allegations of Espionage

The charges stem from a multi-year operation during which the two men allegedly worked in tandem to collect intelligence and attempt to penetrate U.S. military networks.

The DOJ claims that Lai began working for the MSS in 2021 and later recruited Chen into the fold.

In early 2022, the two reportedly coordinated a $10,000 cash payment drop in California, left in a day-use locker in Livermore, as part of their intelligence work.

Their activities didn’t end there.

In 2022 and 2023, Chen and Lai are said to have visited several sensitive military locations.

These included a naval installation in Washington State and a Navy recruitment center in San Gabriel, California.

At the recruitment center, Chen allegedly photographed a bulletin board listing names, training programs, and hometowns of Navy recruits.

Many of those listed had “China” as their hometown, a detail the DOJ believes was of interest to the MSS.

These images were reportedly transmitted to an MSS officer in China.

Furthermore, the MSS allegedly instructed Chen on how to engage with potential recruits, including what financial incentives to offer and which naval job assignments to target.

A Broader Espionage Strategy

The complaint also accuses Chen of cultivating a relationship with a U.S. Navy service member via social media.

He allegedly used this connection to secure a tour of the USS Abraham Lincoln in San Diego and later passed personal details about the employee back to Chinese intelligence.

Chen made multiple trips to Guangzhou, China, in 2024 and 2025 to meet with MSS officers, during which discussions allegedly focused on payments and future assignments.

Meanwhile, Lai, who entered the U.S. in April 2025 on a tourist visa under the pretense of business travel, was observed traveling extensively across several states, raising suspicions about his true intentions.

Both men have been charged with acting as unregistered foreign agents, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Global Implications

This case reflects a broader pattern of concern about Chinese intelligence operations not just in the United States, but globally.

From cyberattacks to technology theft and now direct human intelligence recruitment,

Western governments have increasingly sounded alarms over Beijing’s aggressive tactics.

While espionage is nothing new in geopolitics, this case serves as a stark reminder that the frontlines of modern intelligence warfare may be in the neighborhoods, workplaces, and digital communications of everyday citizens.

As national security agencies intensify their vigilance, the global stakes, and the need for international cooperation, continue to rise.

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