Espionage Unveiled: Chinese Vendor Jailed and Scientist Executed in National Security Breach Involving Foreign Intelligence Agencies

Chinese Vendor Imprisoned for Sharing Railway Information with Foreign Entities: State Security Ministry

The ministry reported that a Chinese firm was lured by a profitable contract to collect data, which was later classified as 'intelligence information.'

Time: 05

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

The text reports that a Chinese IT firm, which was not named, secured a business agreement toward the end of 2020 to gather electronic signal data across China’s extensive railway systems. This contract was awarded by an overseas company, which previously specialized in market research prior to branching out into the Chinese railway sector with an aim to offer technical support services.

According to the ministry, the foreign corporation was unable to dispatch its staff to China due to Covid-related restrictions imposed by Beijing, and consequently, it delegated the tasks to local Chinese firms. The ministry also discovered that this foreign company served a wide array of clients, among them foreign intelligence services, defense and military sectors, and various government agencies.

The report noted that the Chinese firm recognized the possibility that the foreign firm could have hidden agendas. However, tempted by the promise of a profitable deal, it proceeded to purchase and set up the equipment in line with the stipulations of the foreign contract. The Chinese company also gathered data at designated spots and carried out mobile examinations and data gathering across various cities and along major high-speed railway routes as directed by their foreign partner.

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