OREANDA-NEWS US law enforcement agencies detained a Chinese citizen and accused him of acting as a foreign agent without notifying the relevant agencies. This is noted in a statement released on Wednesday by the US Department of justice.

Similar suspicions have previously led to the arrest of the Russian woman Maria Butina. Detained in Chicago a man named JI Chaotung, he was 27 years old.

"JI worked under the leadership of a high-ranking intelligence officer from the Ministry of state security (China) of Jiangsu province... he was tasked to transfer the intelligence officer biographical data of eight people for possible recruitment by the Ministry," the report said.

People, for  whom the suspect allegedly had to collect information - Chinese who work as engineers and scientists in the USA, including at the enterprises performing defense orders.

According to the authorities, JI arrived in the US in 2013 to study at a technological University in Chicago with a degree in electronic engineering. In 2016, it was included in the reserve of the US land forces under the program, which allows to attract foreign specialists, if it is believed that their knowledge and skills are important for national security. In his application for participation in the program, JI allegedly indicated that he had not had contact with the authorities of other countries for the past seven years, and then confirmed it at the interview.

He is charged with one episode in which the Chinese faces up to ten years in prison.

Russian woman Butina was detained in the US in July, she faces up to 15 years in prison. She is accused of conspiracy to work as an agent of a foreign government without registration with the US Department of justice, as well as directly in the work of a foreign agent. Butina told the court about his innocence. The lawyer of the Russian woman declares that she didn't do anything illegal, and her communications in the USA are completely explained by study at local University in the specialty "international relations".