Chinese official caught in honey trap set by foreign spy agency: security ministry

In a report on its official social media account on Thursday, the Ministry of State Security said the official, surnamed Zhang, was posted overseas for a Chinese institution and during that time was a frequent visitor to luxury “venues”.

Through these visits, Zhang came in contact with a foreign spy surnamed Li who was undercover as a local business association member.

According to the ministry, Zhang asked Li over a drink about “exotic entertainment venues”, prompting Li and his superiors to set up a honey trap – an operation in which sex is used as a lure.

Under the instruction of the foreign intelligence agencies, Li soon invited Zhang to a local brothel where Zhang was caught by “local law enforcement officers” when soliciting prostitution, and asked for Li’s help to get out of the situation, the official post said.

Li comforted Zhang and contacted his reliable “brother” – also a foreign intelligence officer – who quickly arrived at the scene and got Zhang out of trouble, it said.