In a stunning exposé, The Wall Street Journal revealed that the U.S. intelligence agencies have uncovered a covert operation by China to infiltrate the country using tourists as spies. According to the report, more than 100 Chinese nationals have been identified as potential agents who have visited various strategic locations and collected sensitive information over the past year.
The report claims that these tourists were recruited and trained by the Chinese Ministry of State Security, the main intelligence and security agency of China. They were given fake identities and travel documents, and instructed to blend in with other visitors while secretly gathering data on U.S. military installations, government facilities, research centers, and critical infrastructure.
The report also links this operation to a previous incident in December 2022, when the U.S. Air Force shot down a suspicious balloon-like object that was hovering over a naval base in California. The object was later confirmed to be a high-altitude spy balloon equipped with cameras and sensors, launched by China from a cargo ship in the Pacific Ocean. China had initially denied any involvement and claimed that the object was a weather satellite that had malfunctioned.
The report cites unnamed senior U.S. officials who said that the discovery of these espionage activities has triggered a high-level alert within the FBI and the Department of Defense. A joint meeting was convened last year to devise a counter-espionage strategy and coordinate efforts among various agencies to track down and apprehend these spies. However, the details of this meeting and the action plan remain classified for national security reasons.
The report also warns that the situation is still evolving and that more cases of Chinese espionage may emerge in the near future. The U.S. government is taking these allegations very seriously and has increased its security measures to prevent further breaches of its sovereignty and interests. The authorities are expected to provide more updates on this developing story in the coming days as they continue to investigate these claims and take necessary actions to protect national security.
This is a breaking news story from Global News Break (gnbnow.com), your source for reliable and unbiased news from around the world. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
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