Bloomberg reporters Drake Bennett and Jordan Robertson have launched a new podcast series called The Sixth Bureau that explores one of the largest economic espionage operations in history. The series follows Xu Yanjun, Deputy Division Director of the Sixth Bureau of the Jiangsu Province MSS office, who orchestrated a sophisticated campaign to steal GE jet engines and other American aerospace technology.

Xu's operation employed dead drops, cyberattacks, aliases, blackmail, and break-ins to target corporate giants including DuPont, Boeing, and General Motors. The Chinese operative sought to acquire what the podcast describes as the "crown jewel" of American aerospace technology. His extensive network and methods represented a significant threat to American industrial competitiveness and national security.

However, Xu's sloppiness ultimately led to his downfall when the FBI executed a cunning sting operation. The podcast, discussed by Bennett and Robertson with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec on Bloomberg Businessweek Daily, details how this high-stakes game of espionage ended in a stunning reversal for Chinese intelligence. The story highlights the ongoing tensions between American innovation and foreign attempts to steal trade secrets.