China detains citizen on spying charges after she worked for US firm: Report

China has detained its citizen on spying charges after she worked for a United States-based company, The Guardian said in a report on Thursday (Feb 15). As per the report, 50-year-old Emily Chen disappeared after flying into Nanjing Lukou International Airport in China in Dec last year on a visit from Doha, where she lives. Chen's husband, Mark Lent said that his wife messaged her family saying she landed but did not come outside the airport.

Lent, an American citizen, said Chen's son received a letter from the national security bureau in Dalian (port city in China) which said that Chen was detained on Dec 30 on suspicion of illegally providing state secrets to overseas parties.

Speaking to the publication, Lent said that his wife was in Dalian helping a US logistics company open an office there. She would never spy on her own country, he added.

The company in the picture

The company that Chen worked for was Safe Ports that was looking to openan office in Dalian, said thecompany's chief executive officer (CEO)Lucy Duncan.Hedescribed Chen's work for the company as “purely administrative.”

The 50-year-old woman worked on a freelance basis for the company from Jan to April 2023.

According to the report, Safe Ports later decided not to expand its operations in Dalian.One of the reasons was that Chen took a full-time job with a French energy company in Doha, Qatar.While, the deteriorating environment for foreigners to do business in China was another reason why the company decided against the expansion, said CEO Duncan.

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It is not yet known if the woman's detention is related to her freelance work for Safety Ports. But Dalian houses an important Chinese naval base. The report further said that Safety Ports previously worked with the US Department of Defense and this association might have drawn Beijing's attention.

Woman's son barred from leaving China

Chen's son, who isfrom her previous relationship and is aChinese citizen, was barred from leaving China last week when he attempted to board a flight in Beijing.

Lent, meanwhile, is trying to raise money for Chen's legal fees and their family's living costs.

(With inputs from agencies)