The person at the center of this case
Multiple U.S. and foreign companies, universities, research institutes, and governmental entities
Cold Case · Open
5 years waiting · since 2021
APT 40 CYBER ESPIONAGE ACTIVITIES
Justice for Multiple U.S. and foreign companies, universities, research institutes, and governmental entities — the trail went cold in 2021, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1What is the current location and status of the four indicted individuals: Zhu Yunmin, Wu Shurong, Ding Xiaoyang, and Cheng Qingmin?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2How many front companies were established by the PRC Ministry of State Security to conduct these cyber operations, and which ones remain active?
💡
clue
Lead #3What specific trade secrets and intellectual property were successfully exfiltrated, and which companies or entities were most heavily targeted?
On May 28, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted four Chinese citizens—Zhu Yunmin, Wu Shurong, Ding Xiaoyang, and Cheng Qingmin—for operating a sophisticated cyber espionage campaign on behalf of China's Ministry of State Security from 2012 to 2018. The conspiracy targeted trade secrets and intellectual property from U.S. and foreign companies, universities, research institutes, and government entities across nine critical sectors including aerospace, defense, biomedical, and maritime industries. The case remains active as authorities work to locate and apprehend the four fugitive defendants and dismantle the network of front companies used to conduct these operations.
Case
#786
United States (Southern District of California jurisdiction)
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California; Federal Bureau of Investigation
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
📞
contact
Lead #4Which U.S. and foreign government entities were compromised, and what sensitive information may have been accessed?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Conspiracy to Damage Protected Computers and Commit Economic Espionage; Criminal Forfeiture Caution: On May 28, 2021, a federal grand jury in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California returned an indictment against four People’s Republic of China (PRC) citizens for their alleged roles in a long running campaign of computer network operations targeting trade secrets, intellectual property, and other high value information from companies, universities, research institutes, and governmental entities in the United States and abroad, as well as multiple foreign governments. The indictment alleges that Zhu Yunmin, Wu Shurong, Ding Xiaoyang, and Cheng Qingmin targeted the following sectors: aerospace/aviation, biomedical, defense industrial base, healthcare, manufacturing, maritime, research institutes, transportation (rail and shipping), and virus research from 2012 to 2018, on behalf of the PRC Ministry of State Security.
Additionally, the indictment alleges the use of front companies by the PRC Ministry of State Security to conduct cyber espionage. The four individuals are identified as: ZHU Yunmin 朱允敏 (STC Codes: 2612/0336/2404) Alias: Zhu Rong WU Shurong 吴淑荣 (STC Codes: 0702/3219/2837) Aliases: goodperson, ha0r3n, Shi Lei DING Xiaoyang 丁晓阳 (STC Codes: 0002/2556/7122) Aliases: Ding Hao, Manager Chen CHENG Qingmin 程庆民 (STC Codes: 4453/1987/3046) Alias: Manager Cheng
Timeline of Events
🕵️
2012
Cyber espionage campaign begins
APT 40 begins targeting aerospace, biomedical, defense, healthcare, manufacturing, maritime, research, transportation, and virus research sectors
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2018
Campaign period ends
Alleged cyber espionage operations conclude
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2021-05-28
Federal indictment returned
Grand jury in Southern District of California indicts four PRC citizens for conspiracy to damage protected computers and commit economic espionage
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2012
Last Updated:June 14, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2012
Last Updated:June 14, 2026