# ‘They will try anything’: China’s expanding spy network across California

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-11-13 06:20 UTC · Category: World

## Executive Summary
Coverage from the Los Angeles Times, CNN, Fast Company, and Engelsberg Ideas examines China's alleged spy network in California and the broader history of honey trap operations.

## Intelligence Brief
The Los Angeles Times reports on what it describes as China's expanding spy network across California, using the headline phrase "They will try anything" to characterize the scope of alleged intelligence activities. The article appears to detail specific operations or cases within the state, though the coverage does not specify which individuals, institutions, or sectors are primarily targeted. Simultaneously, CNN publishes a piece titled "Lovers and spies: How foreign agents have long used 'honey traps' to steal secrets," providing a broader examination of how various foreign intelligence services have historically employed romantic or sexual entrapment as a tradecraft technique. This CNN coverage contextualizes the California allegations within a longer global pattern of human intelligence operations.


Fast Company contributes an article questioning the terminology itself with the headline "Can we please stop calling it a 'honey trap'?" This piece likely critiques the media's use of the phrase, potentially arguing that it sensationalizes or mischaracterizes the nature of state-sponsored espionage. The outlet may explore alternative frameworks for describing such operations, though the coverage does not detail the specific arguments or proposed replacement terms. Engelsberg Ideas publishes "A short history of the honey trap," offering a historical survey of the tactic from earlier eras to the present. This article presumably traces the evolution of the method across different conflicts and intelligence agencies, providing intellectual background for the current news cycle.


The Los Angeles Times appears to provide the primary investigative reporting on recent or ongoing operations, while CNN, Fast Company, and Engelsberg Ideas supply analytical, terminological, and historical framing. Together, the coverage spans breaking reporting, tradecraft analysis, media criticism, and historical overview. No single outlet's reporting is confirmed by the others in the provided headlines, and the coverage does not establish whether the California network allegations are newly revealed or part of an ongoing investigation.


What to watch next includes any official responses from the Chinese government or U.S. federal agencies such as the FBI or Department of Justice regarding the Los Angeles Times allegations. Further reporting may clarify whether arrests, indictments, or diplomatic protests have occurred or are pending. The terminology debate initiated by Fast Company may influence how subsequent coverage describes such operations. Historical parallels drawn by Engelsberg Ideas and CNN could inform congressional oversight or policy discussions on counterintelligence priorities. The coverage does not indicate a timeline for any of these developments.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Company | Can we please stop calling it a ‘honey trap’? | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihgFBVV95cUxPdnlnR21RUFJUZjRudVdtbEdsenpvSm1zeFhKMERVYUhkUjZ1UVpuUVNNSER6M0xyWnYxbGswRFhHeXZ6ZEZqN3c5enhGZTlzVWlKRTQyQXhjX2xwTlhTSEptSnFKcXdaVmVhaDR2V0QzOEhJXzVQaDR1OEJXc0tETkVDODhydw?oc=5) |
| Engelsberg Ideas | A short history of the honey trap | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMie0FVX3lxTE1NMGNFYVhUZEotZnZNYnIwenA1UVBhV3BMYVRTNnRQdzVzai1icEJiVjNTSGpnLS0ySzc1MUZZcENPRk9wVGlhMDZlZm1mWWJWVFQwR1lkRUNfUTBvVVl0UGlxT2tHTnYybVhncjlBbk9TX0NQX3VENWxoaw?oc=5) |
| CNN | Lovers and spies: How foreign agents have long used ‘honey traps’ to steal secrets | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiigFBVV95cUxPdHRXNWlDeDdwcjNQd2E2OGdZQ2JvYUhHbDhuLTFLR2ppWTdsaENjaEZEaDBINGhJcGc0OFN2a2ZnbzZVTFFrMDZYRTZmZzFnNlBmNTBLdkJFaFA3d1lzaUk4c2QwQ2IwU3J3OEYzcERINFV0cGJOS0xHQlZnTk1WcmcwaDJZbGE2d1E?oc=5) |
| Los Angeles Times | ‘They will try anything’: China’s expanding spy network across California | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiugFBVV95cUxOcDVPM1o2aDhpM1NOZ1lCY01QdTVZQ2Q3b1lFaE5xazc5eTIxcTVXZ1NMVGNFcnJJMHhDRWZaVV9IbnVpbnRYOGtmVTZhZXlEaW5ZMzlUbHNCc1lSMHZ6MmU4ZWZpMDJlR1VJeUgzUXRoaFNmTFlnZUtSV1djNU0yNThUMHN6UEttZmpFUTQ1MUlSakM4MnJ1T2ttUU0zRFpNQ2J6WktrNUFaWjlTdjVqRlVmNlRPY1JxOGc?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-11-13/they-will-try-anything-china-s-expanding-spy-network-across-california*