16-4-2024 (BEIJING) China disclosed for the first time on Monday (April 15) that a man executed for espionage in 2016 had been selling secrets to the United States.
In a video released on Monday as part of a campaign showcasing China’s success in combatting foreign espionage, state broadcaster CCTV confirmed the execution of Huang Yu in May 2016, a month after his conviction and death sentence were announced.
Initially, China had not disclosed the country Huang was accused of aiding. Although Monday’s video did not explicitly mention the country, it included images of the American flag and the US Capitol building.
The United States Embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
CCTV stated that Huang Yu, a resident of Sichuan province, had provided classified information, including details on China’s military communications, to a foreign government. Previously, China had reported that he had received $700,000 (approximately £510,000) from his foreign handlers before being apprehended in 2011.
Monday’s video formed part of a broader campaign by China’s state media to raise awareness of what Beijing perceives as the threat posed by foreign spies and to commemorate China’s successes in counter-espionage efforts.
Ahead of a day dedicated to promoting national security awareness and citizen vigilance, established under President Xi Jinping nine years ago, there was a coordinated release of stories and videos across state media platforms.
In a separate statement on Monday, China’s State Security Ministry declared its commitment to employing legal measures to combat spying, stating it would “create sharp weapons” under the law.
Last year, lawmakers passed comprehensive updates to China’s anti-espionage legislation, prohibiting the transfer of any information deemed related to national security, a move that raised concerns among some foreign businesses and investors.
Additionally, the security ministry unveiled a three-minute video depicting what appeared to be a reenactment of a Chinese spy infiltrating meetings, offices, and laboratories to gather intelligence, culminating in their apprehension. However, the video did not specify if it referred to a particular case.
Meanwhile, state-controlled publisher Global Times featured a report detailing cases in which Chinese officials claimed to have thwarted attempts to steal sensitive data, including information on food security and the production of rare earth minerals.
