Cadre probed as Beijing uncovers CIA spying program

China is investigating a national accused of spying for the US Central Intelligence Agency.

The 39-year-old, named Hao, was a cadre at a ministry and went to Japan for studies, where the recruitment occurred. Hao's gender was not revealed.

The statement came less than two weeks after security ministry officers said they uncovered a national suspected of spying for the CIA after being recruited in Italy.

Hao was said to have become acquainted with an American embassy official known as Ted while handling a visa application.

He then invited Hao for dinners, presented gifts and sought Hao's help with writing a paper for which he promised to pay.

Ted also introduced Hao to a colleague named Li Jun before his term at the embassy in Japan ended.

Li and Hao were said to have maintained a "cooperative relationship."

Before Hao completed studying, the officials said, Li revealed being a Tokyo-based CIA operative and "instigated Hao into rebelling," telling Hao to return to China to work for a "core and critical unit."

Hao signed an espionage agreement, accepting training from the United States.

The ministry officials said Hao worked in a national department upon returning, "according to the requirements of the CIA" and provided agency operatives with intelligence while collecting US pay.

The ministry this month published details of what was said to be a CIA-linked espionage case involving a 52-year-old called Zeng, who provided "core secret information" for money.

Zeng was sent to Italy to study, where he befriended a CIA agent stationed at the US embassy in Rome.

The agent convinced Zeng to provide "sensitive information on the [Chinese] military" in exchange for "a huge amount of compensation" and assistance for Zeng and his family to move to the United States, the ministry claimed.

Beijing's revision of its anti-espionage law has spooked many US businesses with operations in China during a downward spiral in relations. Under the new law "relying on espionage organizations and their agents" as well as unauthorized obtaining of "documents, data, materials and items related to national security and interests" can constitute a spying offense.