China’s Honey Traps Target US Politicians, Experts Say
'Americans should be on guard'
Popular outrage in response to the recent case of Christine Fang, a Chinese national who gradually gained political access and power through romantic or sexual relationships with at least two mayors, indicates that many Americans are unaware that this is a common tactic used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The term for this is “honey trapping,” which may sound like something from a Hollywood spy movie, but is a well-developed espionage strategy used widely by the CCP.
Honey traps are a serious risk with regard to the loss of sensitive or classified information, and particularly its use for blackmail. American politicians in different positions of power, including those in the intelligence community and especially members of Congress, are all prime targets, experts say. The prevalence of such incidents is believed to be underreported due to their sensitive nature.