Beijing authorities arrested a senior executive of a Chinese military‑trading company on suspicion of passing sensitive defence information to intelligence agencies of two unnamed foreign states, according to the Ministry of State Security. The suspect, identified only by the surname Zhang, was highlighted in a post on the ministry’s official social media platform, which noted that espionage involving military secrets in China can carry the death penalty.
Zhang, described as fluent in an unknown number of foreign languages after years of study abroad, returned to China and was highly regarded by his employer for handling international business for the arms‑trading firm. He was first approached at a diplomatic reception by a diplomat from “Country A” named Lucas, who exchanged contact details and later paid Zhang to translate technical documents. The requests grew in scope, with Lucas seeking details on China’s military imports and the internal workings of its arms‑trading companies. Despite recognizing that Lucas was likely an intelligence officer, Zhang continued to provide verbal briefings and contracts, earning tens of thousands of dollars.
During an overseas business trip, Zhang attracted the attention of operatives from “Country B.” An embassy official introduced him to an assistant called Sarah, who cultivated a personal relationship before revealing her role as a foreign intelligence agent. Sarah promised lucrative financial rewards and warned that Country B would extract Zhang if he were exposed, persuading him to supply confidential documents on Chinese weaponry.
The ministry said its investigation uncovered Zhang’s dual contacts, leading to his arrest and confession. He was quoted during interrogation as saying, “This day has finally come. It is too late to regret.” The case follows a recent sentencing of a Chinese engineer to death for selling classified material to foreign spies.
