Qingdao 'spy' says he was recruited from abroad via internet jobs website

A Qingdao man who was recruited by a foreign spy to take photos of mainland military bases has been apprehended and awaiting sentencing.

CCTV reported that the man, surnamed Cao, was one of a number of young mainland students and professionals who were lured with offers of money by foreign spies on the internet.

Cao, whose name and age were not given, came to the security bureau's attention in January after he was found "lurking" and taking photos of an aircraft carrier base in Qingdao at dawn. Police seized a camera, telescope, laptop computer, cell phones and other equipment when they arrested Cao on April 20.

According to the report, Cao confessed that he went to the base after he was commissioned by a man claiming to be the editor of a military magazine.

Cao, an employee of a large company in Shandong province, said he was contacted by the man shortly after listing his information at online job sites. The "editor" called him at the end of 2013 and offered him a "field inspection" project.

In order to complete his assignments, which earned him between 1,000 yuan (HK$1,250) and 10,000 yuan, Cao bought more equipment including a telescope and a mobile phone lens to take better quality photos.