The U.S. State Department has terminated a foreign service officer after he was caught on hidden camera admitting to a secret romantic relationship with the daughter of a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) affiliate, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The officer, identified as Daniel Choi, failed to disclose the relationship to U.S. security personnel, raising serious national security concerns.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved the firing, which was also backed by President Donald Trump.
The decision followed the release of undercover footage by O’Keefe Media Group (OMG), in which Choi acknowledged that his girlfriend’s father was “straight-up Communist Party” and that she “could have been a spy.”
In the recording, Choi stated, “I defied my government for love,” referring to his decision to conceal the relationship from State Department authorities despite rules requiring all officers to report close personal contact with foreign nationals.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed that Choi’s termination marks the first enforcement of Executive Order 14211, which President Trump signed earlier this year to strengthen accountability across the diplomatic corps, as the Conservative Brief reported.
The order mandates that all U.S. foreign policy personnel must faithfully implement presidential directives, with violations subject to professional discipline, including dismissal.
“The Foreign Service Officer admitted to concealing a romantic relationship with a Chinese national, whom he said on camera ‘could have been a spy,’” the department said in a statement. “He also said her father was ‘straight-up Communist Party.’ The officer was required to report this contact to Department security officials, but said, ‘I defied my government for love.’ Accordingly, the Secretary recommended that the officer be separated for failing to faithfully implement the President’s foreign policy.”
The case highlights ongoing concerns about Chinese intelligence-gathering efforts targeting U.S. officials through personal and professional relationships. For years, counterintelligence experts have warned that Beijing exploits romantic entanglements, academic connections, and financial incentives to collect sensitive information from American personnel.
“Romantic and social connections remain one of the most exploited vectors in Chinese espionage,” said a former senior intelligence official familiar with State Department security procedures. “An unreported relationship like this represents a massive vulnerability, no matter how innocent it may appear.”
Choi’s undisclosed relationship reportedly involved the daughter of a CCP official who may hold a provincial or federal education ministerial position.
The State Department declined to disclose details of the internal investigation but confirmed that Choi’s failure to report the contact violated long-standing security protocols designed to prevent compromise by foreign entities.
All foreign service officers are required to disclose any “close and continuing contact” with foreign nationals who may be linked to hostile governments.
Secretary Rubio has emphasized countering Chinese influence in U.S. institutions as a top priority, implementing stricter vetting procedures for foreign contacts and enhancing background checks for personnel stationed in East Asia or in sensitive Washington roles.
The swift dismissal of Choi underscores the administration’s commitment to enforcing accountability and safeguarding national security across the diplomatic corps.
