BEIJING — The New York Times has reported the Chinese government straight up owned American intelligence starting in 2010, when it eliminated or imprisoned 18 to 20 CIA snitches.
This dealt a massive blow that crippled intelligence gathering in China between 2010 and 2012.
The best part is that U.S. officials aren’t even sure how the worst intelligence breach in decades even happened.
Some felt the agency had been compromised by a mole, while other thought the CCP had hacked the CIA. Another idea floated around was that CIA agents sucked at their jobs and exposed themselves.
Either way, Beijing knocked off at least a dozen informants while others got to spend some quality time getting to know the fabulous Chinese prison system.
After watching their entire Chinese spook network get dismantled, it took years for U.S. spies to get up and running again.
It wasn’t until 2013 that China’s ability to spot American informants was reduced.