In a case that has sent shockwaves through China’s national security circles, a former assistant defense engineer, identified as Liu, has been sentenced to death for leaking classified intelligence on China’s J-35A fifth-generation stealth fighter to foreign intelligence agencies.
theasialive.com
>According to sources, Liu was a former assistant engineer at a leading defense research institute specializing in military aviation technology. MSS sources revealed that Liu became disgruntled after being passed over for promotion, prompting him to illegally copy, store, and ultimately sell classified defense-related documents.
>Following his resignation, Liu briefly worked for an investment firm, but mounting financial losses from risky stock speculation and unauthorized credit withdrawals drove him to seek alternative means of income—ultimately leading him to trade state secrets for money, according to Global Times.
>Chinese security officials say Liu engaged in highly methodical intelligence operations, using sophisticated tactics to avoid detection:
>Fragmenting and cataloging sensitive defense documents before transmission.
Setting up multiple online accounts to receive covert payments.
Utilizing anonymous IC and SIM cards, regularly changing communication methods to evade surveillance.
Operating under multiple aliases, using prearranged codes for encrypted exchanges.
Over a six-month period, Liu traveled to multiple countries, allegedly leaking highly sensitive Chinese defense intelligence to foreign operatives. **However, his handlers—foreign intelligence agents—cut ties with him after acquiring crucial data at a low cost, a move that left Liu vulnerable and exposed.**
>Rather than abandoning his operations, Liu refined his espionage methods and attempted to re-establish contact with foreign intelligence agencies. His actions raised red flags within China’s national security apparatus, triggering intensive surveillance that led to his eventual arrest in a covert counterintelligence operation.
>According to MSS, Liu was convicted of espionage and the illegal transfer of state secrets. The court handed down the ultimate penalty—execution, along with lifelong deprivation of political rights, underscoring the gravity of the offense.