There appears to be a cultural misunderstanding non-Chinese people aren't always able to fully appreciate or apply with nuance: There are some culturally (Han and other) Chinese people who feel greatest loyalty to ethno-national Chinese diaspora takes precedence over wherever else they're at, even if they become a citizen somewhere else. Furthermore, people who have been somewhere ~ 2-8 generations can span the gamut between assimilating or choosing not to. (There are nonzero very old, multigenerational Chinese families in California who don't speak any English.) I don't know but perhaps the CIA needs to work on its cultural intelligence, HUMINT, and opsec.
Edited title slightly. Original: “Former CIA Officer Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Espionage”