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In China’s Spy Operations, Romance Can Be a Long Game
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- In 1960, a senior Chinese intelligence official publicly stated that China would not use seduction tactics, known as "beauty traps," to entrap individuals, contrasting with practices attributed to the CIA or KGB.
- Despite this early pledge, Chinese intelligence agencies have reportedly used romantic relationships for espionage purposes over the decades.
- U.S. officials allege that China’s Ministry of State Security recruited a Chinese businesswoman, Alice Huang, to gather intelligence on Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, a key figure in the AI industry.
- Jensen Huang admitted to having an affair with Alice Huang, but denied knowledge of her being an intelligence agent; China has denied the espionage claims, labeling them as smears, and no evidence has been publicly provided by U.S. officials.
- Alice Huang has not responded to requests for comment, and the exact nature of her or Huang Le’s involvement with Chinese intelligence remains unclear.
