Four civilians working for China's defense industry in Sichuan Province have been arrested for selling confidential military information to foreign intelligence agencies.
The state security agency in Sichuan said on Tuesday that the suspects were nabbed in a recent operation dubbed Mine Sweep. The four worked for the same employer, although they did not know each other.
The agency said information leaked by the suspects include those concerning research, testing, production and application of high-tech or new weapons. The suspects also tried to find and recommend defense technicians to overseas spies.
Local media say this is the first time that security agents reveal espionage case in a decade in the southwest Chinese province.
According to West China City News, most of the suspects were targeted by foreign spy agencies through the Internet, such as via social media apps, and lured by financial incentives.
China's top legislature adopted a new national security law in July this year.
Zheng Shuna, a senior lawmaker with the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said the law was crucial in the face of "ever-growing security challenges".
