China says engineer jailed for 15 years was lured into sending aerospace secrets overseas
State media says accused received US$88,000 after he ‘fell step by step into the trap laid’ by an unidentified spy organisation
A Chinese aerospace engineer has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for espionage, according to state media, with the report underscoring official warnings that the aerospace industry is a cornerstone of national technological strength and defence security.
The engineer, surnamed Zhu, graduated from a top university with a PhD in 2018, state broadcaster CCTV said on Monday. He then worked as an engineer in multiple aerospace research institutes and handled classified documents in the aerospace and defence industries.
During that time, foreign spies reached out to him, the report said, without identifying the country involved.
According to CCTV, Zhu knowingly used the spies’ equipment to photograph and transmit numerous classified documents and other materials to the unnamed agency, and pocketed 596,400 yuan (US$88,000) in illegal gains.
In addition to receiving a 15-year sentence, all of Zhu’s personal property was confiscated, the report added.
“Zhu had placed personal gain over national interest, succumbing to the lure of money and fell step by step into the trap laid by the spy organisation, ultimately becoming a tool for overseas forces to steal state secrets,” the report said, noting that foreign intelligence agencies had been increasingly targeting personnel in classified positions with financial inducements.