Espionage Under the Guise of Commerce: Chinese Vendor Imprisoned and Scientist Executed for Leaking Railway Data to Foreign Entities

Chinese Vendor Imprisoned for Sharing Railway Data with Foreign Entities: National Security Agency

Agency reports that a Chinese firm was lured by a profitable contract to collect data, which was subsequently classified as 'intelligence information'

Agency reports that a Chinese firm was lured by a profitable contract to collect data, which was subsequently classified as 'intelligence information'

Time: 05

China carried out the execution of a scientist accused of espionage in 2016, as highlighted in a documentary that unveiled 10 startling cases.

The report mentions that in late 2020, an anonymous IT firm based in China was awarded a business contract to gather electronic signal information across the extensive railway networks in China. This contract was issued by an international company which previously specialized in market research prior to entering the Chinese railway sector to offer technical support services.

The ministry stated that the international firm, hindered by Beijing's Covid regulations from dispatching its staff to China, delegated the tasks to local Chinese contractors. It was further revealed that this foreign entity served a wide clientele, comprising foreign intelligence bodies, military and defense sectors, along with various governmental departments.

The report indicated that the Chinese firm knew the international company could have hidden agendas, yet driven by the prospect of a profitable deal, it proceeded to purchase and set up the equipment in line with the overseas client’s contractual stipulations. It gathered data at designated sites and carried out both stationary and mobile testing and data collection across various cities and along high-speed railway routes as directed by the foreign company.

The department reported that the initiative amassed 500 gigabytes of data over a month, encompassing signals from Internet of Things transmissions, mobile and railway communications, and secure networks.