China warns of ‘honey trap’ risks in defence sector after official jailed for espionage

Chinese state security authorities recently warned of “honey trap” risks in the defence and technology sectors, citing a case in which a public official was blackmailed into surrendering state secrets following a trip abroad.

A social media account affiliated with the National Administration of State Secrets Protection published an article on Wednesday stating that personnel in the military industry were becoming targets of honey traps by foreign intelligence agencies and provided details of a related case.

According to the account called Baomiguan, a project manager surnamed Guo from a mainland military enterprise was on a work trip to a foreign city to accept a project. While abroad, a spy posing as a “business representative” approached Guo via deliberately arranged social occasions.

“This seemingly accidental encounter was actually a honey trap orchestrated by a foreign intelligence agency,” the article said.

After Guo had sexual relations with a woman working for the spy’s organisation, it threatened to expose Guo’s affair and successfully recruited him, it reported.