Two Chinese nationals have been sentenced to 30 months in prison in the United States after admitting they tried to recruit US military service members to spy for China. The Department of Justice said Liren “Ryan” Lai and Yuance Chen each received 30 months and three years of supervised release; court documents said they acted as agents of China’s Ministry of State Security.
According to court documents, the pair began acting as agents of China’s Ministry of State Security no later than May 2021. Lai, who arrived in the US on a tourist visa, recruited Chen, a permanent resident, into the operation. In May 2022, they facilitated a secret cash payment of $10,000 from China through a “dead drop” arrangement, and later a $20,000 payment. They also obtained photographs of a naval facility, military recruits and active-duty sailors, and Chen collected personal information about a US Navy employee and maintained detailed biographical data on potential intelligence targets.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A Eisenberg described the scheme as “long-running”, “extensive” and “brazen”. The men were arrested in June 2025 and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to act as agents of a foreign government without prior notification to the Attorney General and acting as agents without notification.
US President Donald Trump said he knew China spied on the US and that the US spied on China too. In June, China announced it had arrested a US citizen accused of espionage.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The case highlights ongoing risks of foreign intelligence infiltration within the US military.
- The use of dead drops and targeting of service members shows sophisticated espionage methods.
- The sentences may affect US-China relations and counter-intelligence priorities.
Background
The two men acted on behalf of China’s Ministry of State Security from at least May 2021. Lai entered the US on a tourist visa and recruited Chen, a permanent resident. They facilitated cash payments totalling $30,000 through dead drops and collected intelligence on military facilities and personnel. They were charged in June 2025 and pleaded guilty.
What to Watch
- Whether further charges emerge from the same investigation.
- China’s official response to the sentencing.
- Potential changes in US visa or security procedures.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe two Chinese nationals admitted trying to recruit US military service members to spy for Beijing.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Two Chinese nationals have been jailed in the United States after admitting to trying to recruit US military service members to spy for Beijing.”
- SupportedLai and Chen each received 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release, according to the Department of Justice.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Liren “Ryan” Lai, 40, and Yuance Chen, 39, were each sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a statement on Friday.”
- SupportedCourt documents say Lai and Chen began acting as agents of China’s Ministry of State Security no later than May 2021.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “According to court documents, Lai and Chen began acting as agents of China’s foreign intelligence arm, the Ministry of State Security, no later than May 2021.”
- SupportedLai recruited Chen into the operation.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Lai, who arrived in the US on a tourist visa, recruited Chen, a permanent resident, into the scheme”
- SupportedIn May 2022, the pair facilitated a secret $10,000 cash payment from China through a dead-drop arrangement.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “In May 2022, they facilitated a secret cash payment of $10,000 from China, ordering US-based individuals to drop the cash at a specified location for collection by someone else, an arrangement known as a “dead drop”.”
- SupportedThe pair later facilitated another payment of $20,000.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The two later carried out another similar operation, facilitating a payment of $20,000.”
- SupportedLai and Chen obtained photographs of a naval facility, military recruits and active-duty sailors.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Chen and Lai also engaged in other forms of espionage, including obtaining photographs of a naval facility, military recruits, and active-duty sailors.”
- SupportedChen collected personal information about a US Navy employee and maintained detailed biographical data on potential intelligence targets.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Chen collected personal information about a US Navy employee and maintained detailed biographical information about military personnel who were potential intelligence targets.”
- SupportedAssistant Attorney General for National Security John A Eisenberg described the scheme as “long-running”, “extensive” and “brazen”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The pair operated a “long-running”, “extensive” and “brazen” scheme to undermine US national security and support Chinese intelligence operations and recruitment in the US, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A Eisenberg said.”
- SupportedThe men were arrested in June 2025 and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to act as agents without prior notification and acting as agents without notification.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The pair were arrested and charged in June 2025. ... The men were found guilty of two charges: conspiracy to act as agents of a foreign government without prior notification to the Attorney General; and acting as agents of a foreign government without prior notification. Both pleaded guilty in court.”
- SupportedTrump said he knew China spied on the US and that the US spied on China too.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “In late August, US President Donald Trump said he knew China spied on the US, but “we spy on them too”.”
- SupportedIn June, China announced that it had arrested a US citizen accused of espionage.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “In June, China announced that it had arrested a US citizen accused of espionage”