British Restaurateur Unmasked as Suspected Chinese Spy
A British chef who operated several Asian restaurants in Liverpool has been sentenced to prison in the United States after being identified as a suspected Chinese spy. Jian Fun Tso, 52, also known as Steven Tso, was caught in a sophisticated Department of Defence sting operation in Arizona when he attempted to purchase specialised microchips used in space probes and ballistic missiles.
The Elaborate Smuggling Operation
Tso transferred over £400,000 from his British bank account to an undercover American agent to acquire radiation-hardened microchips that are strictly prohibited from export to China. Court documents reveal his plan involved smuggling these sensitive components in a suitcase through Britain and Hong Kong before reaching mainland China.
Intelligence experts confirmed that such advanced microchips would likely have been destined for a single Chinese institution - the People's Liberation Army, which oversees all weapons manufacturing and the country's space programme.
The case remained unreported in both the US and UK until recently, when it was mentioned in the American Spy Cast Museum podcast, bringing the extraordinary story to public attention.
From Restaurant Kitchen to International Espionage
According to an investigation, Tso was born in China's Canton region but grew up in Liverpool and became a naturalised British citizen. He built his career as a Chinese chef, operating popular Liverpool eateries including Maicee Express, Tso San, and the Oriental Restaurant - a £600,000 establishment that mysteriously burned down in 2009.
The married father of two daughters, aged 25 and 23, appeared to be living an ordinary life in the Waterloo area of Liverpool. However, court documents paint a very different picture of his clandestine activities.
The Sting Operation Unfolds
In January 2018, Tso initially contacted an Arizona company called Cobham, requesting to purchase radiation-hardened microchips for what he claimed were 'auto-parking' cars in China. When Cobham refused, citing export restrictions, Tso approached a distributor company while pretending the components were for a British client called John Anderson from Liverpool-based Metech.
Investigators quickly discovered that Metech's address was actually Tso's own Chinese takeaway, Maicee Express, raising immediate suspicions. This prompted the Defence Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) to launch an undercover operation.
An undercover DCIS agent posed as a distributor for Cobham and developed a relationship with Tso over a year, meeting him in both the United States and at Bangkok's luxury Inter-Continental hotel. During these secretly recorded meetings, Tso confessed that the £2,000-each microchips were ultimately destined for mainland China via the UK and Hong Kong.
Over twelve months, Tso transferred £413,039 from his Lloyds Bank account in the UK to the undercover officer's American bank account. He later revealed that the money originated from China and was funnelled through several 'front companies' he operated in Britain.
The Arrest and Confession
On January 15, 2019, Tso met the DCIS agent in Arizona, where he disclosed that a suspected Chinese agent named 'Cindy' was waiting in Britain to receive the microchips. The plan involved Tso transporting the components in a suitcase to the UK, where Cindy would then take them to Hong Kong before others delivered them to mainland China.
After receiving a suitcase containing 200 microchips from the undercover agent and being driven to Phoenix Sky Harbour Airport for his flight back to Britain, US customs officers intercepted and arrested Tso.
A year later, Tso appeared before the District Court in Arizona and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to export items without a license, violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This offence carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a $1 million fine, but Tso received a reduced 36-month term after his guilty plea.
In his written confession, Tso stated: "I, Jian Fun Tso, conspired with other individuals to purchase Cobham radiation-hardened programmable memory microchips. I knowingly and wilfully attempted to export microchips to China without a licence or other authorization from the Department of Commerce."
Aftermath and Current Situation
After serving one year in prison, Tso was released and deported to the UK, where he appears to be operating at least two companies in Liverpool. When contacted at the family home in Waterloo, the new partner of Tso's ex-wife indicated they have limited contact with him.
A British-Chinese friend of Tso, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that he is now living quietly and wants to leave the UK. The friend added: "He said it's all lies, newspapers lie, and he does not want to talk to you." Tso did not respond to requests for comment from journalists.
This case represents the latest instance of Chinese intelligence services recruiting British nationals. In September, two other Britons - Christopher Cash, 30, and Christopher Berry, 33 - who were charged with spying for China, walked free after their case collapsed when prosecutors determined it couldn't be won in court because the Government refused to classify China as an enemy.
The incident has contributed to growing concerns about Chinese espionage activities targeting British citizens. Recently, MI5 issued an unprecedented warning to Parliamentarians and civil servants, alerting them that Chinese spies are attempting to lure them with job offers and money through professional networking platforms like LinkedIn.
