Washington: The US government covertly moved to expel two officials from the Chinese embassy earlier this year, after they drove onto a military base, The New York Times reported, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

The newspaper reported on Sunday that one of the two Chinese officials is believed to be an intelligence officer operating under diplomatic cover.

The details of the incident have emerged just days after the US and China reached a significant trade agreement. Credit:AP

The Chinese officials breached security at a base in Virginia this fall, and only stopped driving after fire trucks were used to block their path, the newspaper said.

A law enforcement official familiar with the episode confirmed to Reuters that the account in The New York Times was accurate.