A Chinese intelligence agent allegedly posed as a Stanford University student to collect sensitive research information, according to a recent investigation. The case highlights rising concerns about foreign espionage in U.S. academic institutions.
The agent, using the alias “Charles Chen,” reportedly targeted students working on China-related topics. According to a report by The Stanford Review on May 7, 2025, the impersonator contacted several students through social media, focusing primarily on women involved in China research.
One of the students, identified only as “Anna” for her safety, was conducting sensitive research on China when she began receiving messages from Chen. At first, the messages appeared casual and professional, but they soon became more personal and persistent.
Chen asked if Anna spoke Mandarin, sent her videos of Americans who gained fame in China, and repeatedly urged her to visit Beijing. He even offered to pay for her travel expenses, sending screenshots of bank balances to prove he could afford it.
“He referenced details about her that Anna had never disclosed,” the report stated, raising red flags about his true intentions.
Chen advised Anna to keep her visit to China between 24 and 144 hours to avoid visa scrutiny and requested all communication take place on WeChat, a messaging app known to be monitored by Chinese authorities. The situation escalated when he asked her to delete screenshots of their conversations from her social media account.
Growing suspicious, Anna consulted experts in counterintelligence and eventually contacted law enforcement. Investigators later confirmed that “Chen” had no formal connection to Stanford University, despite maintaining online profiles that claimed otherwise.
Officials believe Chen operated under different variations of his name and targeted multiple students over several years. Intelligence experts say he was likely working for China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), seeking to identify sympathetic students and gather technological research data.
The report suggests the incident is part of a broader effort by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to gather intelligence at top U.S. institutions, especially in fields such as artificial intelligence and robotics.
Stanford, known globally for its leadership in AI research, has been described as “academic target number one” under China’s “Made in China 2025” strategy, which aims to position China as a leader in advanced technologies.
This case also aligns with what former FBI Director Christopher Wray called “non-traditional collection” tactics, where civilians, including students, are used instead of professional spies to obtain sensitive information.
Matthew Turpin, former director for China at the U.S. National Security Council, said China encourages students to bypass U.S. laws and bring home restricted technology. “The Chinese state incentivizes students to violate conflicts of commitment and interest,” he said.
Stanford University has not released a detailed public statement on the specific allegations, but reiterated its commitment to national security, stating it takes such matters “with the utmost seriousness.”
