Former official of China's ministry sentenced to death with two-year reprieve for leaking state secrets: MSS
Global Times
By Global Times Published: Sep 04, 2025 10:54 AM
China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) on Thursday disclosed three distinct tactics employed by overseas spies to deceive citizens into leaking state secrets. Among these cases, it revealed that a former official of a state ministry was lured into befriending a spy, then blackmailed using compromising information, ultimately leading to his conviction for espionage and a death sentence with a two-year reprieve.
The MSS said one of the cases involved obtaining state secrets through emotional manipulation in the name of a romantic relationship. Xiao Zhe, an 18-year-old exchange student at a university in the island of Taiwan, was approached by a woman who claimed to be his senior during a meticulously orchestrated gathering by spies. This woman frequently showed him affection and invited him out for shopping and meals, making Xiao Zhe—who was living far from home—grow increasingly attached to her and eventually fall in love.
After returning to the Chinese mainland and working at a classified key laboratory, Xiao Zhe was repeatedly asked by the spy, under the pretext of caring about his life and studies, to take photos of the laboratory and share his latest academic research findings, according to the MSS.
Gradually, the requests changed from simple information to specific experimental data and confidential research materials.
When Xiao Zhe noticed something was unusual and tried to break up with her, she threatened to expose that he had already leaked secrets. Under this intimidation, Xiao Zhe had no choice but to continue leaking state secrets, the MSS said.
Later, after an investigation by national security authorities, it was found that the so-called senior was a member of an overseas spy and intelligence agency, 16 years older than Xiao Zhe. She used all means to lure Xiao Zhe and exerted control over him under the guise of "love," all for the purpose of obtaining national secrets.
In total, Xiao Zhe provided her with nearly 100 pieces of intelligence related to China's national defense and military industry, and received a reward of 45,000 yuan ($6,300), according to the MSS.
Another common tactic used by spies is to proactively befriend individuals, gain leverage over them, and then threaten them into leaking state security information.
A former employee of a state ministry, surnamed Zhang, met a diplomat from a foreign country during his posting abroad who struck up conversations with him. This diplomat not only helped Zhang improve his foreign language translation skills but also addressed difficulties in Zhang's work and personal life, gradually making Zhang dependent on and grateful to him.
Their relationship also shifted from official contacts to private interactions, until the diplomat offered to pay a high reward for national secrets.
Despite knowing the diplomat was an intelligence agent, Zhang continued to maintain contact with him. Over the following years, Zhang acted as a spy for that country's government, even developing a romantic relationship with a female official from that country and fathering two children with her, completely falling under the control of the foreign spy agency.
Investigations by state security authorities later revealed that Zhang had privately stored 5,200 documents, including 59 classified as top secret, 848 as confidential, and 541 as sensitive. In February 2019, Zhang was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for espionage and illegally obtaining state secrets, the MSS reported.
Besides the above-mentioned methods, another tactic used by spies is to offer low-barrier but high-paying jobs.
Li, who worked in South China's Guangdong Province, was looking for a part-time job and met a disguised spy online. At first, this spy only assigned Li some simple but well-paid tasks. Once Li got used to the easy money, the spy revealed his true intentions, offering larger sums to gather intelligence near military units and facilities.
Ultimately, under the lure of money from the foreign spy agency, Li sank deeper into the trap and faced severe legal consequences.
Another man, surnamed Huang, also seeking part-time work, connected with a foreign operative via WeChat. Under this operative's instructions, Huang used his frequent work near a military port as a wedding photographer to take numerous photos of warships docked in the area.
He sent nearly 400 military-related photos of the port and warships to the foreign operative and received 40,000 yuan in compensation.
In the end, Huang was sentenced to 14 years in prison, deprived of political rights for five years, and fined 40,000 yuan for espionage and illegally providing state secrets to foreign entities, according to the report.
The MSS reminded the public to resist temptations and promptly report suspicious activity to safeguard China's national security.
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