The content of this article is based on authoritative historical data, and there are citations at the end of the article.
In a world of advanced technology and strict secrecy, the name of a Chinese aerospace expert has suddenly become the focus of the nation. The scientist, Zhao Xuejun, was once hailed as the pride of the country and has been committed to pushing China's space technology to new heights.
However, just when his career was in full swing, a news broke out that shocked the society - Zhao Xuejun was accused of being a foreign spy and selling state secrets for ten years.
How did this happen? How did a brilliant scientist get on this road of no return? What kind of untold story is behind it?
Zhao Xuejun's journey to the United States for further study and his first acquaintance with Jack
In 2009, Zhao Xuejun, as an important scientific researcher in the mainland, decided to go to the United States, a major country in science and technology, for further study. His professional background is in the field of aerospace, and he has considerable research achievements and technical accumulation.
The main purpose of this trip is to conduct more in-depth research and study at the forefront of global aerospace science and technology, hoping to introduce advanced technology and improve its own research and development capabilities through exchanges and cooperation.
After Zhao Xuejun arrived in the United States, he soon met Jack at an academic exchange meeting. Jack was one of the organizers of the conference and showed great enthusiasm for Zhao Xuejun's arrival.
He took the initiative to introduce Zhao Xuejun to participate in various academic activities and arranged for him to have face-to-face exchanges with local aerospace science and technology experts. Jack's enthusiastic attitude and thoughtful arrangements made Zhao Xuejun, who had just arrived in the United States, feel very gratified, and thought that he could quickly integrate into the local scientific research environment.
Jack provided Zhao Xuejun with a spacious residence, a modern apartment in the heart of the city, with state-of-the-art facilities and beautiful views.
The interior of the apartment is luxuriously decorated with carefully selected furniture and decorations that are both modern and cozy. Although Zhao Xuejun's original residential conditions in China were also good, compared with this apartment, it seemed more ordinary.
In addition to providing accommodation, Jack also gave Zhao some expensive gifts, such as the latest electronics, high-end watches, and branded clothing.
Although these gifts are worth a lot of money, Jack always presents them in a light-hearted way, as if it were just an ordinary exchange between friends. For example, after a weekend of golf, Jack gave Zhao Xuejun a Swiss watch, praising him as "a friend worth making deeply."
Through these material temptations and monetary rewards, Jack slowly took on a more important role in Zhao Xuejun's life. Whenever Zhao Xuejun needed any help or needed, Jack was always there in time and provided corresponding support.
Whether it is a small difficulty in life or a need at work, Jack can provide a solution, so that Zhao Xuejun's dependence on him gradually increases.
Over time, this dependency gradually extended to the professional world. Jack began asking Zhao for details about his research project, ostensibly out of interest in technology.
The questions he asks are often very specific, such as about the application prospects of a particular space technology or the potential market value of a new technology.
Jack has always been able to skillfully incorporate these questions into their daily conversations, and Zhao has grown accustomed to sharing technical ideas and opinions with him.
The temptation of money
As time passed, Jack's interactions with Zhao Xuejun gradually became more frequent and deeper. After a series of scientific and technological exchanges and social activities, Jack began to touch more directly with the specifics of Zhao Xuejun's work. After a dinner meeting, Jack suggested that he hoped to get Zhao Xuejun's professional advice and help on some technical issues.
For this purpose, Jack proposes a model of cooperation. He offered Zhao a $1,000-a-month compensation plan as compensation for his time and expertise. The money was described as a reward for Zhao's professional consulting, and all Zhao needed to do was answer some technical questions and provide some industry analysis.
At first glance, this kind of transaction may seem like a typical advisory service, but as the depth and scope of Zhao's information to Jack has expanded, Zhao's information has gradually touched sensitive technology areas.
Jack pays particular attention to the latest advances in space technology with potential military applications, such as satellite communications, navigation systems, and more.
During these exchanges, Jack carefully prepares his questions to make sure they sound like ordinary technical discussions that don't alert Zhao.
Exchanges usually take place in Jack's apartment or in a quiet café, guaranteeing a level of privacy and comfort. These meetings are arranged very naturally, usually after the two sides have discussed public technology topics.
For each help, Jack would put the reward into a regular folder and hand it to Zhao Xuejun at the end of the meeting. In addition to cash, the folders sometimes contain some technical literature or market analysis reports, all of which are intended to disguise the real purpose of the remuneration.
One spring evening, Jack decides to confess his true identity and purpose. He told Zhao Xuejun after a seemingly ordinary dinner that he was actually an American spy and had deliberately approached Zhao Xuejun. He explained that such actions are based on national interests, hoping to get some information of strategic importance to the United States through Zhao Xuejun.
The exchange did not take place in public, but in the confined space of a private clubhouse. Jack here manages to make the whole environment seem as informal and friendly as possible to soften the onslaught of the message.
He proposed that as long as Zhao Xuejun was willing to continue to cooperate, they were willing to pay according to the previous standard and guarantee that Zhao Xuejun's safety would not be threatened.
Double Life and Intelligence Transfer
After Zhao Xuejun returned to China, he ostensibly devoted himself to domestic aerospace research and continued to work in a state-level scientific research institution. His work involves the development and optimization of space technology, often dealing with complex data about the design and operation of spacecraft. Externally, Zhao Xuejun is a busy and dedicated scientist who is deeply respected and trusted by his colleagues.
However, under this surface, Zhao Xuejun lives another secret life. He uses sensitive information he has access to in his work to maintain contact with Jack and the intelligence agency behind him through a series of carefully established security measures.
Communication between Zhao Xuejun and Jack takes place mainly through a specially crafted USB stick and a highly encrypted private domain website. This website has multiple security verifications, which are only open to him and Jack, ensuring the confidentiality and security of data exchange.
Whenever Zhao Xuejun obtains important space project data, he will use this special USB flash drive to copy the data. The USB flash drive has a complex encryption program built in, which makes it difficult to crack the contents even if it is accidentally discovered by outsiders.
Zhao Xuejun usually chooses to transmit data late at night or early in the morning through his personal computer, connected to an encrypted network. He carefully chooses the time and network on which data is transmitted, avoiding working hours and public networks to reduce the risk of data breaches.
In the course of this high-stakes exchange, Zhao Xuejun also developed a complex set of personal security measures. For example, he regularly changes his communication devices and passwords, and uses virtual private networks (VPNs) and other online anonymity tools to ensure that his online activities cannot be tracked.
In addition, Zhao Xuejun will conduct multiple checks before transmitting data to confirm the importance and sensitivity of the information, and ensure that each time it is transmitted information that is truly valuable to Jack and his intelligence agencies.
This secret double life lasted for almost a decade. During this period, Zhao Xuejun showed extreme caution and wisdom, successfully avoiding the suspicion of his colleagues and other staff members.
However, no matter how careful Zhao Xuejun is, it is difficult to completely hide the long-term secret activities after all. Inevitably, he has to perform unusual operations at work, such as frequently using his personal device to process work data, or handling sensitive information outside the workplace.
Over time, these anomalous behaviors gradually came to the attention of the domestic security authorities. The security authorities began to carefully observe and record Zhao Xuejun's behavior. They noticed that Zhao Xuejun's online activity was unusually frequent at certain times, usually late at night or early in the morning, which was inconsistent with the normal working pattern.
Through further investigation, the security agencies slowly uncovered Zhao Xuejun's secret activities. They traced the encrypted communication channels used by Zhao Xuejun through technical means, and gradually decrypted the content of his communications with the outside world.
Legal sanctions
In June 2019, after a long period of surveillance and meticulous investigation, the state security organs finally got hold of conclusive evidence that Zhao Xuejun had provided state secrets to foreign intelligence agencies.
Early one morning, security officials suddenly appeared at Zhao Xuejun's residence and took him away for interrogation. In the process, officials showed evidence they had gathered, including records of communications between Mr. Zhao and Mr. Jack, copies of encrypted USB sticks, and records of data he had uploaded and downloaded from private domain websites.
The security authorities took a series of coercive measures, including restricting Zhao Xuejun's personal liberty and conducting detailed interrogations. They also conducted a thorough search of Zhao Xuejun's home and workplace, seizing a variety of devices used to encrypt communications and a large amount of sensitive data.
After that, Zhao Xuejun was formally arrested and prosecuted, and the case entered the judicial trial stage. During the trial, the prosecution presented detailed evidence, including records of Zhao Xuejun's correspondence with foreign intelligence agencies, technical data he provided to the other party, and records of related monetary transactions. Zhao Xuejun was charged with espionage, a felony under national law that involves national security and interests.
The trial lasted several months, during which the court heard testimony from a number of witnesses, including Zhao Xuejun's colleagues and some information security experts. The witnesses provided background explanations for Zhao's actions, as well as the sensitivity of the technical information he was involved in. Prosecutors stressed that Zhao's actions pose a serious threat to national security and should be severely punished under relevant laws.
After the trial, the court finally handed down its verdict in August 2022. Zhao Xuejun was sentenced to seven years in prison, deprived of political rights for three years, and confiscated 200,000 yuan of personal property for espionage.
The verdict pointed out that Zhao Xuejun's actions not only violated his duties as a scientific researcher, but also seriously endangered the security and interests of the state. After the verdict came into effect, Zhao Xuejun was sent to a specific prison to serve his sentence, and his life in prison lasted for seven years.
Bibliography:
A Case Disclosed by State Security Organs: An Expert in the Aerospace Field Was Rebelled During a Study Abroad