FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced on Thursday that the bureau has dismantled a major Chinese espionage operation inside the United States, including agents who were actively working to recruit American service members into betraying their country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement posted to X, Bongino said the FBI executed eight search warrants and made two arrests in San Francisco, Houston, Portland, and San Diego as part of the operation. He described the spy ring as \u201csophisticated\u201d and directly tied to the Chinese government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is your FBI, and you deserve to know about the work we\u2019re doing every day to keep our country and citizens safe,\u201d Bongino said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The takedown follows a series of cases earlier this year in which U.S. Army soldiers were caught passing sensitive information to the People\u2019s Republic of China in what Bongino called \u201ctreason-adjacent espionage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the FBI, the foreign agents were attempting to steal U.S. defense secrets and advanced technologies, including missile and drone capabilities, while also conducting surveillance and intimidation campaigns on U.S. soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since January 2025, the FBI has arrested 51 foreign intelligence agents from nations including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Charges range from economic espionage and sanctions evasion to stealing classified information and smuggling biological materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bongino said the bureau has nearly 5,000 active counterintelligence cases, with more than 800 new cases opened this year alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe typically work behind the scenes in this space,\u201d he said, \u201cbut we understand we need to rebuild your trust in the FBI and learn from past mistakes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that the agency has declassified thousands of pages of counterintelligence documents and shared them with Congress to promote transparency and regain public trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGod bless America, and all those who defend Her,\u201d Bongino said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n