The recent conviction in the United States of a Chinese intelligence agent may have Beijing backpedaling on its espionage operations for the moment, according to experts, who said an unsuspecting American in China may become their means for retribution.
On Nov. 5, a federal jury convicted Xu Yanjun over his role in a scheme to recruit spies and steal sensitive aviation technology for the Chinese regime. Xu, a deputy division director at a provincial branch of Beijing’s top intelligence agency, the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS), was found guilty on all counts, including conspiracy to commit economic espionage and to steal trade secrets.
