China Agents CAUGHT—Inside U.S. Navy Intel Grab

While Americans worry about pronoun usage, Chinese spies are actively recruiting inside our military – and two of them just got caught red-handed on U.S. soil.

Two Chinese nationals have been arrested in the United States for operating as agents of the Chinese government without proper registration. Yuance Chen and Liren “Ryan” Lai were apprehended in Portland, Oregon, and Houston, Texas, respectively, as part of an FBI operation targeting foreign espionage. The individuals allegedly worked for China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), facilitating cash payments for information, attempting to recruit U.S. Navy personnel as assets, and gathering intelligence on American military installations. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines for their roles in what officials call a significant threat to national security.

China’s Spy Game Comes to American Shores

Just when you thought the Chinese Communist Party was content with stealing our intellectual property, manufacturing our medications, and buying up our farmland, they’ve decided to take their espionage game to the next level. In a move that should surprise absolutely no one who’s been paying attention, the FBI has arrested two Chinese nationals who were operating right here on American soil as agents of the People’s Republic of China. These aren’t just tourists who took a wrong turn at the San Diego Zoo – they were actively working to recruit members of our military to betray their country.

The two men, Yuance Chen and Liren “Ryan” Lai, were arrested in Happy Valley, Oregon, and Houston, Texas, respectively. Their job description? Oversee clandestine intelligence operations for China’s Ministry of State Security. This is the same MSS that’s been working overtime to steal American technology, infiltrate our universities, and generally make a mockery of our national security. And let me tell you, they weren’t exactly subtle about it – they were facilitating dead-drop payments and actively recruiting potential assets from within our armed forces.

Hopefully they get more than the $5,000 fine Biden’s DOJ gave that Navy spy https://t.co/ooobHxq2oW

— John Ʌ Konrad V (@johnkonrad) July 2, 2025

Dead Drops and Military Targets

Remember when espionage required some level of sophistication? These guys were apparently operating straight out of a cold war spy novel, complete with “dead drops” to pass information and payments. For those who don’t speak spy, a dead drop is when information or items are left at a predetermined location for another person to pick up later, avoiding direct contact. It’s Espionage 101, and apparently, the Chinese government thinks it’s still 1975. Only now, they’re combining old school tactics with modern technology, using social media to identify and contact potential recruits.

“The FBI arrested two Chinese nationals who were allegedly attempting to recruit U.S. military service members on behalf of the PRC,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The Chinese Communist Party thought they were getting away with their scheme to operate on U.S. soil, utilizing spy craft, like dead drops, to pay their sources. This case was a complex, coordinated effort and is an example of outstanding counterintelligence work done by FBI San Francisco, Portland, Houston, San Diego, and the Counterintelligence Division. The FBI will continue to vigilantly defend the homeland from China’s pervasive attempts to infiltrate our borders.”

Their primary target? The United States Navy. Because apparently, Beijing has decided that having the world’s largest navy isn’t enough – they need to know all about ours too. These agents were specifically targeting Navy personnel and bases, looking to turn American sailors into Chinese assets. They weren’t just taking unauthorized photos of sensitive Navy recruit data – they were actively working to compromise the backbone of our maritime defense. And while our military leadership is busy mandating DEI training and worrying about gender pronouns, Chinese spies are walking around our naval bases like they’re at a tourist attraction.

It has been two weeks since five Chinese nationals who studied @UMich were charged with spying on Camp Grayling. More action is needed from @GovWhitmer following this incident. pic.twitter.com/En6u5VuyQZ

— Rep. John Moolenaar (@RepMoolenaar) October 16, 2024

The Chinese Embassy’s Laughable Response

In what might be the most predictable response since a toddler denies eating cookies with chocolate all over their face, the Chinese Embassy in Washington has denied all allegations. Not only did they claim there was “no evidence” (despite the FBI’s extensive investigation), but they had the audacity to accuse the United States of espionage against China. This coming from a country that has installed surveillance equipment near U.S. military installations, sent spy balloons over American airspace, and has been caught red-handed stealing American technology for decades.

“This case underscores the Chinese government’s sustained and aggressive effort to infiltrate our military and undermine our national security from within,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Justice Department will not stand by while hostile nations embed spies in our country – we will expose foreign operatives, hold their agents to account, and protect the American people from covert threats to our national security.”

Let’s be clear about what’s happening here: while our government has been busy funneling billions to Ukraine, opening our southern border to anyone who can walk across it, and focusing on pronouns in the military, China has been patiently executing a long-term strategy to undermine American power. These arrests aren’t isolated incidents – they’re symptoms of a systematic effort by the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate every aspect of American society. And despite this latest “victory” in catching two operatives, you have to wonder how many others are still out there, undetected and continuing their work.

America’s Wake-Up Call

If there’s any silver lining to this alarming situation, it’s that maybe – just maybe – this will serve as yet another wake-up call for those Americans still sleepwalking through the reality of the Chinese threat. These arrests make it crystal clear that the threat isn’t some abstract geopolitical concept; it’s right here on American soil, actively working to compromise our military and national security. The question is whether our leadership will finally take it seriously enough to prioritize American security over political correctness and global virtue signaling.

The defendants face up to 10 years in prison if convicted, which seems rather light for attempting to undermine our national security. But at least they’re facing consequences, unlike the many American politicians and business leaders who continue to cozy up to Beijing while selling out American interests. Until we recognize that China represents an existential threat to American security and sovereignty – and act accordingly – we’ll continue playing whack-a-mole with Chinese spies while the broader infiltration proceeds unabated.

​