Part 4/14:
Further trips by Chen to China in 2024 and 2025 were intended to discuss additional tasks and payments. Ryan Lie's return to the U.S. in April was also closely monitored, with authorities suspecting continued spying activities. The arrests, executed in June across multiple states, underscore China's long-term strategy to collect intelligence on U.S. military capabilities.
The U.S. government strongly condemned these actions, with Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasizing that the Chinese effort represents an aggressive attempt to infiltrate and weaken American national security from within. China’s foreign ministry responded with typical deflection, denying involvement and mocking U.S. claims—an integral part of Beijing’s diplomatic rhetoric.