The FBI arrested two spies from the Chinese Communist Party in the United States.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed on Tuesday the arrest of two Chinese citizens in the United States, accused of spying on the U.S. Navy and attempting to recruit military personnel to collaborate with the Chinese regime's intelligence services.

Patel made the announcement through his account on the social network X, where he shared a Fox News report and warned that any attempt at espionage on U.S. soil would be met with determination.

"Two Chinese citizens were discovered spying on the U.S. Navy and attempting to recruit U.S. military personnel for the CCP's intelligence service. Our FBI won't tolerate it. We tracked them, we arrested them, and we aren't finished yet. Espionage on U.S. soil will be fought with full force," the official wrote.

Espionage

The arrested spies are Yuance Chen, residing in Happy Valley, Oregon, and Liren Lai, who entered the United States in April with a tourist visa and was in Houston, Texas, according to information released by Fox News.

Authorities from the U.S. Department of Justice indicated that both individuals were acting on behalf of the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS), conducting covert operations aimed at collecting data on U.S. military facilities and personnel.

They were also accused of attempting to recruit potential collaborators for the MSS and of implementing a "covert dead drop," a clandestine technique used to leave cash intended to finance their activities.

The arrests were carried out by the FBI with the collaboration of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). Chen was captured in Oregon, while Lai was apprehended in Houston.

Patel, who also gave statements to the media, said: "Today's arrests reflect the FBI's unwavering commitment to protecting our national security and safeguarding the integrity of our armed forces."

Meanwhile, Patel stated that those involved were working for a hostile foreign intelligence service, as part of a broader plan by the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate and weaken U.S. institutions.

"Thanks to excellent coordination with our partners, including NCIS, we disrupted those efforts and sent a clear message: The United States won't tolerate espionage on U.S. soil. Our counterintelligence operations remain focused, vigilant, and relentless," he concluded.