US Sentences Naturalized Citizen to 4 Years for Passing Classified Information to China

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] A Chinese-American who handed over classified information to an institution under the Chinese government was sentenced to 4 years in prison and fined $30,000 (about 37.13 million KRW).

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) in Hong Kong on the 18th, the U.S. Department of Justice determined that Xue Huafeng, a Chinese-born naturalized American living in California, was connected to a Chinese government agency and transmitted U.S. national security-related classified information to China. He was sentenced to 4 years in prison and fined $30,000.

It is known that after being recruited by the Chinese intelligence agency, the Ministry of State Security, around March 2015, he acted as a courier delivering classified information received at various meeting places in the U.S. from October 2015 to June 2018 directly to China. He was later caught for espionage activities, arrested in September last year, and indicted.

In a video released by the FBI, Mr. Peng was seen taping cash under the drawer of a hotel, the meeting place, so that the informant could leave information and pick up the cash instead. The digital card containing classified information was personally transported to China by Mr. Peng.

John Demers, U.S. Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General for National Security, said, "This case shows how Chinese intelligence agencies collect U.S. secrets without needing to enter the United States," adding, "It is just one example of China's multifaceted espionage activities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.