You can read the column via the
below link or the below text:
Chinese Agent Who Joined U.S. Army Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison
By Paul Davis
In an article in the current issue of the Journal, I wrote about the uncovering of Chinese intelligence operatives in the United States.
There has been
additional malign activity, as Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco called
Chinese intelligence operations in the U.S., since those listed in the article.
Most notably is the Chinese spy balloon that crossed the United States and was
finally brought down by U.S. aircraft over the Atlantic Ocean.
In another case of
malign activity, last month a Chinese national living in Chicago was sentenced
to eight years in federal prison for acting illegally within the United States
as an agent of the People’s Republic of China. While the U.S. Army’s marketing
slogan is “Be all you can be,” Ji Chaoqun modified the slogan to “Be all the
spy you can be,” as the Chinese agent joined the U.S. Army Reserve.
According to the
U.S. Justice Department, Ji Chaoqun (seen in the above photo) was convicted last year on one count of
conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government, specifically the People’s
Republic of China, without first notifying the Attorney General; one count of
acting as an agent of the People’s Republic of China without first notifying
the Attorney General; and one count of making a material false statement to the
U.S. Army.
“Evidence presented
at trial revealed that Ji worked at the direction of high-level intelligence
officers in the Jiangsu Province Ministry of State Security (JSSD), a
provincial department of the Ministry of State Security (MSS) for the People’s
Republic of China,” stated the U.S. Justice Department.“Ji, a Chinese citizen
residing in Chicago, was tasked by Xu Yanjun, a Deputy Division Director within
the Ministry of State Security, with providing biographical information on
certain individuals for possible recruitment by the JSSD.”
“The individuals
included Chinese nationals who were working as engineers and scientists in the
United States, some of whom worked for U.S. defense contractors. This tasking was part of an effort by the
Jiangsu provincial department to obtain access to advanced aerospace and
satellite technologies being developed by companies within the U.S.”
Xu was sentenced
last year to 20 years in federal prison after being convicted in the Southern District of Ohio of conspiracy and
attempting to commit economic espionage and theft of trade secrets.
According to the
Justice Department, in 2016, Ji enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves under the
Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVI) program, which
authorized the U.S. Armed Forces to recruit certain legal aliens whose skills
are considered vital to the national interest.
“In his application
to participate in the MAVNI program, Ji falsely stated that he had not had
contact with a foreign government within the past seven years. In a subsequent
interview with a U.S. Army officer, Ji again failed to disclose his
relationship and contacts with a foreign intelligence officer,” the Justice
Department stated. “Evidence at trial further revealed that in 2018 Ji had
several meetings with an undercover law enforcement agent who was posing as a
representative of the Ministry of State Security.
“During these
meetings, Ji explained that with his military identification, he could visit
and take photos of “Roosevelt-class” aircraft carriers. Ji also explained that
once he obtained his U.S. citizenship and security clearance through the MAVNI
program, he would seek a job at the CIA, FBI, or NASA. Ji intended to perform
cybersecurity work at one of those agencies so that he would have access to
their databases, including databases that contained scientific research.”
According to
immigration records, Ji Chaoqun was born in China and arrived in the U.S. from
Beijing, China on or about August 28, 2013, on an F1 Visa, for the purpose of
studying in the U.S. He received his Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering
at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago in December 2015.
In May 2016, JI
enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves as an E4/Specialist under the MAVNI program.
On or about June 6, 2016, as part of the process for his application to
participate in the MAVNI program, Ji electronically submitted Standard Form 86
(“SF-86”), a security clearance application.
In Section 20B of
the SF86, Ji answered “No” to the following question: Have you or any member of
your immediate family in the past seven years had any contact with a foreign
government, its establishment (such as embassy, consulate agency, military
service or security service, etc.) or its representatives, whether inside or
outside the U.S.? (Answer ‘No’ if the contact was routine visa applications and
border crossings related to either official U.S. Government travel or foreign
travel on a U.S. passport.)
On or about
December 6, 2017, also as part of the process for his MAVNI application, Ji underwent
a Single Scope Background Investigation (“SSBI”) interview with a U.S. Army
officer. As part of the interview, the officer reviewed Ji’s responses in the
SF-86 with him. During the interview, Ji again failed to disclose his
relationship and contacts with intelligence officers. At the conclusion of the
interview, Ji signed a Department of the Army Form 2823, which is a sworn
statement affirming to the truthfulness of the information that he provided
during his interview.
The FBI and the
U.S. Army 902nd Military Intelligence Group investigated the case.
After sentencing
the Chinese spy, U.S. District Judge Ronald Guzman said he was disturbed by Ji
Chaoqun’s long-range plans.
“It was his intent to become a long-term Chinese sleeper agent,” the judge noted.
Ji Chaoqun has
traded his U.S. Army uniform for an orange prison uniform.
Paul Davis, a long-time contributor to the Journal, covers crime, espionage and terrorism in his
Threatcon column.
You can also read my Counterterrorism magazine piece on Chinese Intelligence Operatives via the below link:
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