Former CIA Officer Glen Carle Explains Why Ashley Tellis Was Likely Spying for China

Former CIA officer Glen Carle speaks to NDTV's Vishnu Som

New Delhi:

Glen Carle, a veteran Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer with service on the US National Intelligence Council, told NDTV why he believes Indian-American strategic affairs expert Ashley J Tellis was engaged in espionage activities for China.

Tellis faces charges in the US for unlawfully retaining national defense information.

Once recognized as the principal architect of the landmark 2008 US-India civil nuclear agreement, US prosecutors claim Tellis printed classified material regarding US military aircraft capabilities and air force tactics, which he then stored at his Virginia residence.

Court documents allegedly reveal he had conducted secret meetings with Chinese officials since 2022, including dinners where they discussed Iran-China relations and artificial intelligence technology.

"I'm pretty certain that he is [a Chinese spy]. Two possibilities exist. Either he's a naive fool, or he's spying for China. The evidence seems clear. The regulations are explicit and universally understood. Everyone receives briefings and must constantly maintain awareness of these rules throughout their careers when handling classified information. At minimum, he has violated regulations that make his actions illegal," Carle explained to NDTV on Wednesday.

He described the Tellis case as straightforward, with clearly defined penalties.

What Could Be The Motivation

Regarding what might have motivated Tellis to spy for China despite his successful high-profile career, the former CIA officer explained that motivations can be numerous, as identifying and manipulating such motivations forms the core of espionage work.

"The possibilities are nearly limitless... Some are driven solely by the excitement of breaking rules and engaging in covert activities. Financial gain could be a factor. Perhaps personal relationships, desire for recognition, or resentment toward superiors or his institution played a role. Often, this is what happens," Carle stated.

"[Or] He's working for a higher ideal. 'America is not getting it right. And if I only could make people understand among their adversaries, then the world would be a better place'. He probably has rationalized that multiple of these motivations can be acting at the same time. The job of the intelligence officer is to identify and then exploit those. And someone seems to have done it well with regard to Tellis," the former CIA officer said.

If convicted, Tellis could receive up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 special assessment and forfeiture, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia's Tuesday statement.

"The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served," it said.

Born in Mumbai and educated at the University of Chicago, Tellis has established himself as a prolific writer and adviser on defense and Asia policy. He played a crucial role in developing the landmark India-US civil nuclear agreement during George W Bush's administration, which transformed bilateral relations in the mid-2000s.

Previously, he served in the US Foreign Service as senior adviser to the ambassador at the US embassy in Delhi. He also worked on the National Security Council staff as special assistant to then-President Bush and senior director for strategic planning and Southwest Asia.

The Tellis case raises an uncomfortable question for the US: is there a broader pattern of deep-penetration espionage by China?

"Well, no question about it," Carle told NDTV. "One of my frustrations, though not surprising, is that my colleagues and I often explain how pervasive Chinese intelligence operations against the United States are, or how extensive Russian operations are."

"Many things ordinary citizens accept as facts about how the world functions are actually being manipulated by various intelligence services. People typically regard such statements as paranoid. What's truly shocking is how extensively intelligence activities influence policies of even the United States and less powerful nations."

"One statistic: China has been the most active intelligence service targeting the United States for years. Approximately 150 indictments have been filed by the FBI in the past 5-10 years against Chinese nationals, Chinese Americans, or others conducting espionage in the United States for China. This represents an exponential increase as China has emerged as a global power with greater assertiveness," the career CIA officer explained.

'It Is Widespread'

He emphasized that the general public remains unaware, skeptical, or fails to comprehend how widespread these activities are.

"Another point regarding how such an intelligent and accomplished individual could commit such incredibly foolish acts: A fundamental lesson we address during intelligence training and throughout our careers is that assets or spies invariably make foolish mistakes that jeopardize their security. They aren't professional intelligence officers. Though accomplished, intelligent, and sophisticated people in positions of authority, they often become arrogant and careless. That appears to be what happened here," Carle told NDTV.

He noted that handlers consistently advise their assets during every meeting about proper security measures.

"... 'Don't do the following stupid things'... because you anticipate they will. So one somewhat ironic or darkly amusing aspect of this case, from an American perspective, is that the Chinese intelligence officers managing this individual now have egg on their faces because he committed such egregious errors that the entire operation has been compromised," Carle concluded.