Suspected Chinese spies targeted former State official for Venezuela research

A suspected Chinese intelligence outfit contacted a former senior State Department officer late last year requesting they draft an assessment of U.S. policy priorities in Venezuela in exchange for payment, Nextgov/FCW has learned.  

The former official, who worked in a national security role while employed by the government and requested anonymity to speak candidly about their experience, said they wanted to speak out about the incident to warn other former federal employees, especially those in highly sensitive positions.

A person claiming to be Keven Lee from a firm called Foresight and Strategy contacted the former official. Both Lee and the firm’s name surfaced in research produced by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies that was first reported by Nextgov/FCW in September last year. That research assessed that the firm is part of a nexus of fake companies and websites likely tied to China. 

Read more at NextGov/FCW