Chinese Ministry Employee Stole 300,000 Documents, Sold Them to Foreign Agencies

A Chinese ministry employee was recently arrested for leaking state secrets to foreign spy agencies after stealing nearly 300,000 internal documents, according to the Ministry of State Security (MSS) on Tuesday.

The suspect, Ms. Zhang, who  infiltrated classified meetings to plant recording devices was exposed when one of the devices fell due to its glue coming unstuck, prompting the attendees to report the situation, the MSS said.

The MSS published details of the espionage case on its official WeChat account on Tuesday with a 5-minute documentary video revealing the details of the case, Global Times reported

Dried glue gave the spy away

The video shows that during a confidential meeting at a key official institution, a faint click was heard - an active voice recorder had fallen beneath a seat. Evidence showed it had been taped there with  adhesive, but the weakened glue from repeated use caused it to drop.

This immediately raised suspicion among attendees, who reported it to their leadership. The institution notified state security authorities. Investigations revealed Ms. Zhang as the prime suspect.

In fact, over a month earlier, state security agencies had detected someone initiating contact with a foreign intelligence service, offering classified documents. Authorities launched an investigation, merging the cases. After interrogating Zhang, they were shocked to confirm she was the common suspect in both cases.

Concealed identity, downloaded files, smuggled phone into secure areas

Ms. Zhang previously worked at a prestigious university, municipal agencies, and eventually a state ministry. Concealing her identity, she contacted foreign spy agencies, pledging allegiance. Under their direction, she recklessly sold classified information from critical sectors.

She exploited her institution's managerial loopholes, illegally downloading files from its internal system over an extended period. She smuggled her phone into secure areas to photograph classified documents, copied electronic files from colleagues' computers when offices were vacant, and repeatedly planted voice recorders in internal meetings to secretly record discussions.

After the recorder was discovered, she hastily applied for an exit permit, preparing to flee with the trove of stolen secrets but was arrested before she could put her plan into motion.

Zhang's case exposed severe lapses at her institution - a critical state-sector entity - including failures in counter-espionage accountability, lax enforcement of protocols, and significant deficiencies in staff education, management, and oversight. Disciplinary authorities launched a retroactive investigation, imposing penalties on 12 negligent officials and personnel involved in the case, the MSS stated.