Chinese intelligence services attempted to recruit a congressional aide to infiltrate the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) by posing as an individual named 'Chris Chen,' The New York Times reported on the 9th (local time).

In response, John Moolenaar (Republican, Michigan), Chairman of the Select Committee, issued a statement saying, "The Chinese government is actively targeting the U.S. Congress and congressional staff as part of its extensive influence and intelligence gathering operations, and is attempting to obtain sensitive information related to U.S. defense, supply chains, and economic strategy through seemingly innocuous inquiries." He added, "While the Select Committee is a top target due to the nature of its investigative and policy work, this applies to all other Members and staff of Congress. Extreme vigilance is required, and everyone working in Congress must remain alert to suspicious contacts."

According to the report, the intermediary using the name 'Chris Chen' contacted an employee of the House China Committee and offered $10,000 in exchange for U.S. policy information regarding rare earth minerals and Venezuela.

Chen repeatedly promised to send the aide an upfront payment of $2,000.

However, instead of quietly accepting the offer, the aide, who was responsible for sensitive policy matters related to China, reported the incident to their superiors on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. The committee quickly concluded that Chen was likely a Chinese intelligence operative or contractor seeking to recruit a new asset, rather than the Singapore-based business consultant he claimed to be.

According to the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, the objective of this operation appeared to be gathering non-public information on U.S. strategic planning, which may have included potential future plans.

The fact that Chen attempted to contact an aide on the very committee investigating national security threats from China appears to be a vivid example of the lengths to which Beijing's intelligence agencies will go to obtain sensitive information from the heart of Washington's power.

According to The New York Times report, Chen appeared to be very interested in what U.S. decision-makers thought about China's official intentions, such as promises to purchase American soybeans or whether China would ease its control over rare earths. He asked, "If China tightens controls again next year, do you all have a Plan B?"

The committee has been targeted by Chinese intelligence agencies in the past.

Last year, the committee experienced a situation where an individual, believed to be a scammer, impersonated Representative John Moolenaar, the chairman of the Select Committee, and sent emails to government agencies and other entities requesting information on potential sanctions against China.

Cybersecurity investigators determined that these emails were linked to a hacking group associated with the Ministry of State Security, China's central intelligence agency.

By Hong Seong-gu, Chief Reporter of NNP, USA / Special Correspondent for this publication NNP info@newsandpost.com