In a major blow to Chinese espionage activities on U.S. soil, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced Thursday that the bureau successfully dismantled a sophisticated Chinese spy ring operating within the United States.
This operation, which involved the attempted recruitment of American service members, marks a significant victory for U.S. national security in the ongoing battle against foreign espionage.
The operation led to eight executed search warrants and two arrests across key U.S. cities, including San Francisco, Houston, Portland, and San Diego. Bongino described the espionage ring as highly advanced and confirmed that it was directly tied to the Chinese government, indicating a clear and strategic effort by China to infiltrate American defense mechanisms.
“This is your FBI, and you deserve to know about the work we’re doing every day to keep our country and citizens safe,” Bongino wrote in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing the FBI's commitment to transparency and public safety.
The dismantling of this spy ring comes amid a rising tide of concerns over China’s increasing efforts to infiltrate and undermine U.S. national security.
According to Bongino, this recent operation is part of a broader trend of espionage activity that has been taking place across the United States in recent years, with particular emphasis on recruiting U.S. military personnel to betray their country by stealing sensitive information and technology.
The Chinese agents, according to the FBI, were focused on obtaining U.S. defense secrets, particularly advanced missile and drone capabilities, and conducting covert surveillance on U.S. soil.
This includes efforts to intimidate and coerce U.S. military personnel, in what is being described as “treason-adjacent espionage.”
The spy ring’s actions reflect a larger, more coordinated attempt by the Chinese government to secure military intelligence that could shift the balance of power between China and the U.S. Specifically, China has been accused of pursuing U.S. technological advances that could enhance its military capabilities, putting the safety of American defense systems at risk.
In addition to attempting to recruit U.S. service members, these agents were reportedly involved in gathering intelligence that could compromise U.S. military readiness and technological superiority. This included sensitive research on missile defense systems and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), both of which are crucial to U.S. national security interests.
Bongino’s statement underscored the gravity of these operations, calling the situation a direct “attack” on U.S. defense infrastructure, with China employing covert tactics to infiltrate military systems.
“This is not just intelligence-gathering; this is an attempt to weaken the U.S. from within,” he said, emphasizing that the FBI’s role was critical in averting a major security breach.
The takedown of this Chinese spy ring comes on the heels of several similar cases earlier this year, where U.S. Army soldiers were caught attempting to pass sensitive information to the Chinese government.
Bongino referred to these incidents as “treason-adjacent espionage,” highlighting the increasing risk posed by foreign intelligence efforts targeting U.S. military personnel.
Since January 2025, the FBI has arrested a total of 51 foreign intelligence agents from various countries, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
These arrests were part of an ongoing effort to dismantle foreign espionage networks that have attempted to infiltrate the U.S. military and steal critical national security data.
The charges brought against the agents range from economic espionage and sanctions evasion to stealing classified information and smuggling biological materials.
“These are not just cases of unauthorized access to information,” Bongino said. “This is an organized effort by hostile foreign powers to infiltrate our government and military.”
As of now, the FBI has nearly 5,000 active counterintelligence cases, with more than 800 new cases opened just this year alone, signaling the growing challenge posed by foreign espionage to U.S. interests.
Bongino also noted that, while much of the FBI’s counterintelligence work is conducted behind the scenes, the agency is making a conscious effort to rebuild public trust.
In addition to pursuing cases against foreign agents, the FBI has declassified thousands of pages of counterintelligence documents and shared them with Congress to promote transparency.
“We understand the need to rebuild your trust in the FBI and learn from past mistakes,” he stated, underscoring the agency’s commitment to protecting American citizens from foreign threats.
While the dismantling of this espionage operation is a major victory for the FBI, Bongino himself has recently been the subject of much public scrutiny, particularly over his involvement with the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Sources have suggested that Bongino had become frustrated with how the case was managed, particularly regarding Epstein’s mysterious death while in custody in 2019.
Reports indicated that Bongino had contemplated resigning after a heated discussion with Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding the handling of the Epstein case. Bongino returned to work after taking a personal day in early August, but his future at the FBI remains uncertain.
The Epstein investigation has long been controversial, with many critics alleging that key figures in the U.S. government were complicit in covering up the scope of Epstein’s crimes.
Bongino, known for his outspoken criticisms of what he perceives as government inefficiency, had previously expressed dissatisfaction with how the investigation into Epstein's associates and potential enablers was handled.
Adding fuel to the fire, Bongino recently claimed that Trump was not involved in Epstein’s activities, citing a statement from Epstein’s former attorney David Schoen.
Schoen made it clear that Trump was not on the list of Epstein’s clients, further distancing the former president from the scandal.
Bongino’s focus on foreign espionage, particularly China, underscores the growing concerns about the country’s ambitions and its aggressive tactics to undermine the U.S. and its allies.
As tensions between China and the U.S. continue to escalate, espionage has become one of the primary tools in Beijing’s strategy to expand its global influence.
The FBI’s ongoing efforts to target and dismantle Chinese espionage networks inside the U.S. serve as a reminder of the critical importance of counterintelligence work in safeguarding national security.
With China’s increasing use of technology and cyber tactics to infiltrate American systems, the FBI’s vigilance has never been more necessary.
As the U.S. prepares for an uncertain future in the face of growing geopolitical tensions, agencies like the FBI play an essential role in protecting the nation’s most sensitive information.
The dismantling of the Chinese spy ring represents a small but crucial victory in what is likely to be a prolonged battle against foreign adversaries seeking to undermine American sovereignty.
The FBI’s successful takedown of a Chinese spy ring is a testament to the agency’s commitment to national security and its ongoing efforts to dismantle foreign espionage networks.
With foreign intelligence agencies continuing to target U.S. military and defense infrastructure, the FBI’s role in counterintelligence is more critical than ever.
As tensions rise between the U.S. and China, it is clear that espionage and cyberwarfare will continue to be key strategies for both sides. The challenge for U.S. intelligence agencies is to stay one step ahead of these increasingly sophisticated operations.
The fight is far from over, but the recent success serves as a reminder that the FBI is on the front lines of this ongoing battle for national security.
