U.S. Diplomat Fired After Discovering Secret Relationship With Chinese National

A U.S. diplomat has been dismissed after allegedly concealing a romantic relationship with a Chinese national who reportedly had close ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) — a revelation that has set off alarm bells over national security and foreign influence within American diplomatic ranks.

The State Department confirmed the dismissal on Oct. 8, with spokesperson Tommy Pigott stating that the diplomat “admitted concealing a romantic relationship with a Chinese national with known ties to the CCP.”

Though the official’s name was not revealed, footage secretly recorded and posted online by political activist James O’Keefe appears to identify him as U.S. Foreign Service officer Daniel Choi.

In the leaked video, Choi is seen speaking candidly about his relationship, acknowledging that the woman “could have been a spy” and that her father was “straight-up Communist Party.” In another moment, he is heard saying, “I defied my government for love.”

The conversations were recorded by an undercover journalist and published on X in August, sparking controversy across diplomatic and intelligence circles.

According to reports from the Associated Press, this marks the first known dismissal of a U.S. diplomat under a 2024 policy that prohibits all American government personnel stationed in China from engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens.

The measure, introduced during the Biden administration, was aimed at preventing potential espionage and foreign coercion risks.

Pigott reaffirmed Washington’s stance in a statement, declaring that the U.S. would uphold “a zero-tolerance policy for any employee who is caught undermining our country’s national security.”

While the case has raised concerns about the personal vulnerabilities of diplomats stationed abroad, it also underscores the growing strain between Washington and Beijing, where love, loyalty, and geopolitics can dangerously intertwine.