China arrests spy suspect

Chinese authorities have arrested a taxi driver they accuse of selling military secrets to foreign spies.

The national security agency in the central Henan Province said on Monday that the local procuratorate had approved the arrest of the man, surnamed Duan, after Chinese intelligence agents found evidence suggesting he had sent sketching and information about military installations to foreign agents.

A 37-year-old with a criminal record of theft, Duan was contacted by a foreign intelligence agent during a period when he was unemployed and applying for jobs online in 2013, according to the security agency.

It said in a statement that the agent paid Duan to amass information on military garrisons in Kaifeng city and observe and record the movements of military aircraft and vehicles.

More than 40,000 yuan (6,400 U.S. dollars) in payment was transferred to the bank account of one of Duan's gambling companions. Duan, often wearing a cap and face mask to disguise his identity, made a number of ATM trips to withdraw this money, the agency said.

Duan confessed to the accusations, according to the statement, which did not specify for which country or countries the foreign agent was acting.

The security agency warned that foreign intelligence agents are increasingly recruiting spies among people using the Internet to look for employment or companionship.

On Monday, it publicized a phone number for the public to report any such approaches.