Axios Investigates: A Chinese Spy

Axios Re:Cap

Axios

Daily News, News

4.5 • 705 Ratings

🗓️ 9 December 2020

⏱️ 18 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

For over a year, Axios has been investigating a suspected Chinese intelligence operative who cultivated extensive ties with local and national U.S. politicians, including a sitting congressman. Today, we present a special episode: the story of the alleged intelligence operation, which offers a rare glimpse into the lengths Beijing will go to access U.S. political circles. Guests: Axios' Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, Axios Codebook author Zach Dorfman of the Aspen Institute, former Cupertino, CA mayor Gilbert Wong, former CIA intelligence official Rodney Faraon and Alameda County chief-of-staff Shawn Wilson. Credits: This story was edited by Alison Snyder, Scott Rosenberg and Sara Goo. This special podcast episode was produced by Dan Bobkoff and Carol Wu and mixed by Alex Sugiura. Special thanks to Mike Allen, Qian Gao and Naomi Shavin. Go deeper: Exclusive: Suspected Chinese spy targeted California politicians

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, I'm Dan Pramak, and welcome to Axios Recap, presented by Facebook.
0:05.0	Today's Tuesday, December 8th.
0:07.0	And today we're bringing you a special episode.
0:10.0	Axios investigates China's spy strategy in the U.S.
0:14.0	This is a classic story, right?
0:16.0	It's got everything. It's got politics of the highest stakes.
0:19.0	It's got the Chinese government, the U.S. government.
0:22.2	It's got sex.
0:23.8	It's a story that seems ripped from a spy novel, how a suspected Chinese intelligence operative
0:28.4	allegedly spent years building relationships with local U.S. politicians.
0:33.2	I remember thinking, wow, she has no shame.
0:35.3	She just does whatever she needs to do to get as close as she possibly can.
0:39.5	She fundraised.
0:40.7	She recruited interns.
0:42.2	One person she targeted is a fast-rising congressman who now serves on the House Intelligence Committee.
0:47.6	She even pursued romantic relationships with some mayors.
0:51.0	It was a long game, a bet that today's city council member could become tomorrow's
0:55.6	political star. And here's why this matters. It's a rare look at the lengths China will go to
1:01.8	to influence U.S. politicians and policies. It has never crossed my mind that she was involved
1:08.8	in any espionage. Here's Nailab Boodoo of Axios today with the story.
1:14.4	Bethany Allen Ibrahimian covers China for Axios, and Zach Dorfman writes our codebook newsletter.
1:19.3	He's also at the Aspen Institute.
	...

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