Two Chinese Nationals Sentenced for Espionage Against US Military
Espionage Sentencing in Washington
Representational Image
Washington, Oct 31: The Justice Department has announced that two individuals from China, Liren “Ryan” Lai, aged 40, and Yuance Chen, aged 39, have each been sentenced to 30 months in prison for engaging in covert intelligence activities aimed at US military personnel.
Both men were also given three years of supervised release after being found guilty of conspiring to act as agents for the Chinese government without informing the US attorney general.
According to the Justice Department, the pair operated under the guidance of China’s Ministry of State Security. Their operations involved orchestrating secret cash transactions, collecting intelligence on military sites and personnel, and assisting in the recruitment of intelligence sources within the US military.
“Liren Lai and Yuance Chen were involved in a prolonged scheme that jeopardized U.S. national security by facilitating Chinese intelligence activities and recruitment efforts in the United States,” stated John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.
The sentences were handed down following guilty pleas from both defendants, with Lai admitting to his crimes on December 12, 2025, and Chen pleading guilty on February 20.
As per court documents, the two began their espionage activities as early as May 2021. Lai was responsible for recruiting Chen and initially served as a liaison between him and Chinese intelligence officials.
Chen later began receiving direct assignments from these officials, according to the department.
The government’s sentencing memorandum revealed a covert payment of around $10,000 made in January 2022. While in China, the defendants coordinated with individuals in the US to leave a backpack containing the cash in a locker at a recreational facility in Livermore, California.
This method was described as a “dead drop,” allowing for the exchange of money or information without direct contact between the parties involved.
Starting in 2022, Chen collected intelligence on US military installations and personnel under the direction of Lai and Chinese intelligence officers.
His tasks included taking photographs of Navy Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington, as well as capturing images and videos of military recruits and active-duty sailors at a Navy recruiting station in Southern California.
Additionally, Chen gathered identifying details about a Navy employee and compiled extensive biographical data on military personnel viewed as potential intelligence targets, according to the department.
In March 2023, Lai traveled to the US and provided Chen with a mobile phone intended for covert communication with the Chinese intelligence service.
Chen subsequently visited China in 2024 and 2025, where he met with intelligence officers and received further instructions regarding US service members.