A former CIA analyst shares insights from the hundreds of espionage cases he draws on for a new book on China’s efforts to infiltrate key U.S. state and civilian entities.

By Sam Cooper | The Bureau

Summary

A leading expert on China’s intelligence operations has compiled one of the most extensive databases of Chinese espionage cases on U.S. soil, offering an unparalleled look into Beijing’s efforts to infiltrate key American institutions.

China’s espionage operations in the U.S. have significantly expanded in scale, sophistication, and reach, posing a major challenge to U.S. national security. Former CIA and Defense Intelligence Agency analyst Nicholas Eftimiades, a leading expert on China’s intelligence operations and author of Chinese Espionage Operations and Tactics, has documented 855 Chinese espionage cases, providing an in-depth look into Beijing’s efforts to infiltrate key American institutions.

Eftimiades highlights that China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) is responsible for half of these espionage cases, with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) handling almost 30 percent. The remainder involves state-owned enterprises, universities, front companies, and “non-traditional” collectors. Beijing increasingly targets overseas Chinese for recruitment, leveraging their backgrounds, professional access, and technological expertise to gather sensitive information.

His case studies include Linda Sun, a high-level political operative in New York, who covertly advanced PRC interests within the state government for over a decade. The range of assets recruited for China’s extensive and multifaceted espionage efforts, blur the lines between state and civilian entities, raising concerns about the integrity of U.S. institutions and national security.

For the original version of this report, see the publisher’s website here.