China spy busted: Who, again, started the China trade war?

In what was hailed as a rare espionage victory against China, U.S. officials successfully extradited a Chinese intelligence official lured to Belgium back to the U.S. on charges of economic espionage. According to the New York Times:

The extradition on Tuesday of the officer, Yanjun Xu, a deputy division director in China's main spy agency, the Ministry of State Security, is the first time that a Chinese intelligence official has been brought to the United States to be prosecuted and tried in open court. Law enforcement officials said that Mr. Xu tried to steal trade secrets from companies including GE Aviation outside Cincinnati, in Evendale, Ohio, one of the world's top jet engine suppliers for commercial and military aircraft.

The Times report, which is good, notes that this kind of economic secret-stealing is business as usual for the Chicoms, whose national security strategy seems to be premised on thievery instead of innovation.

The coming trial, in federal court in Cincinnati, could further expose China's methods for stealing trade secrets and embarrass officials in Beijing – part of what current and former administration officials said was a long-term strategy to make stealing secrets costly and shameful for China. Federal prosecutors will have to present additional evidence to prove their case, which could include intercepted communications between government officials or even testimony from cooperating witnesses.

The Times reporter even offered some rare, rare (hope she doesn't get into trouble) implied praise for the Trump administration for actually going after this matter:

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