Chinese Spy Who Targeted U.S. Lawmaker Was 'Hu Jintao's Flight Attendant,' FBI Files Reveal

Newly declassified FBI files have exposed a deeper layer to the alleged Chinese espionage involving Christine Fang, a suspected operative who targeted a U.S. congressperson. The documents reveal that Fang claimed to have served as a flight attendant on the official aircraft of former Chinese President Hu Jintao.

According to a declassified FBI file codenamed 'Rusty Thumbs,' Fang submitted a resume to U.S. authorities detailing her employment with Air China from May 2002 to September 2009. During this period, she reportedly worked on the state leader's aircraft, which would have been used by Hu Jintao at the time.

The FBI investigation, which began around 2013, indicated that Fang had significant ties to Chinese intelligence agencies. The bureau even devised a plan to turn her into an unwitting double agent. Undercover agents posed as representatives of a fictitious company and engaged Fang in 2013, signing her to a contract for political consulting and tasks.

However, the counterintelligence operation unraveled in 2015 when Fang apparently became aware of the investigation. She fled the United States and returned to China just as the FBI was preparing to search her California residence. U.S. counterintelligence officials noted that Fang's case highlights how foreign intelligence agencies leverage individuals with specific backgrounds and connections to infiltrate American politics.