China's national security authority has recently disclosed a major espionage case, where a spy, recruited during his study abroad, had leaked national secrets while working for a core government department.

According to the official account of the national security ministry, the spy, surnamed Hao, was approached by a foreign intelligence worker when applying for a visa at an embassy to attend an international academic conference overseas.

An embassy official, an operative of a foreign intelligence agency, established contact with Hao, the PhD student, by offering help with his visa.

Later, the embassy official further gained Hao's trust through meals, gifts, and part-time job opportunities, the ministry said.

Before Hao graduated and returned to China, the embassy official introduced him to a colleague, who revealed his identity as a spy later and recruited Hao as a secret staff member at their intelligence agency.

Following the agency's instructions, Hao managed to secure a position at a research institute under a central department, which is a key confidential institute in China, provided the agency with intelligence he had gathered, and received money.

Later, Hao was seconded to a central department, where he was involved in a confidential project. Hao continued providing the intelligence agency with confidential information about the project and relevant internal personnel.

It is revealed that the information Hao had leaked to the foreign spy agency included five items classified as confidential secrets, which are the second-most important national secrets, and two items classified as secrets, the third-most important.

Hao was convicted of espionage and sentenced to life imprisonment, with lifelong deprivation of political rights.

The ministry of state security said that foreign intelligence agencies have long targeted Chinese students abroad, using their visa applications to identify valuable targets.

Common tactics to lure students include hosting meals, offering travel invitations, giving gifts, and providing part-time jobs. Once a close relationship is established and the time is right, they will attempt to recruit the students as spies.

Foreign intelligence agencies and their operatives continuously focus on China's core departments and conduct extensive intelligence infiltration and espionage activities in key areas, posing severe threats to national security and development interests, the ministry warned.