Commentary
China’s communist leader Xi Jinping and Beijing’s paranoia have escalated to the point where the regime’s top spy agency has initiated a social media campaign to involve the entire nation in combating the perceived foreign espionage threat.
On National Security Education Day on April 15, the Ministry of National Defense released a video produced by the civilian spy agency, the Ministry of State Security (MSS), titled “Let the spies have no place to hide.” The official description translates to, “In the sea of people, you may never notice them. Their identities are changeable, they have countless disguises, and they even don’t hesitate to change their gender.” This video represents the heightened paranoia of the Xi Jinping regime.
The video showcases an Asian man adopting various disguises—a utility worker, a chef, a driver—while engaging in espionage activities. As a photographer, he captures images of a woman near a restricted area. Wearing a lab coat, he blends in with researchers, extracting secrets from a laboratory. Disguised as a businessman, he infiltrates a meeting, copying data onto a thumb drive for transmission to an undisclosed foreign entity. A cinematic moment reminiscent of James Bond occurs when a waiter slips him a message hidden in his lunch, which he reads and consumes. However, his actions are foiled when Chinese security forces apprehend him in a raid.
Following the spy’s capture, flashback sequences reveal that state security forces monitored him throughout his clever identity changes and intelligence gathering. This video serves as both CCP propaganda, lauding the courage of those safeguarding the Party and the nation, and a stark reminder to citizens that the CCP is always vigilant and that they will be apprehended regardless of their cunning. The flashbacks demonstrate that not only was the spy under surveillance, but nearly everyone he encountered was a CCP counterspy.
The National Intelligence Law mandates citizens and companies to assist the CCP in intelligence collection. This concept is echoed in the video’s description, emphasizing that despite spies blending in among the Chinese populace, “as long as there are 1.4 billion of you and me, we can build 1.4 billion lines of defense! … Maintaining national security is for everyone and everyone is needed!” This places the responsibility for national security on every citizen’s shoulders, urging them to report any suspicious activities by both foreigners and nationals.
The CCP operates multiple spy agencies, both civilian and military. Military intelligence falls under the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which is responsible for “collecting foreign military, economic, and political intelligence to support military operations,” according to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
Until recently, the People’s Liberation Army Strategic Support Force was the primary military agency handling signals intelligence, cyberwarfare, and other technological warfare tasks. However, as of April 19, 2024, the Strategic Support Force was disbanded and replaced by three distinct forces: Aerospace Force, Cyberspace Force, and Information Support Force (ISF), with ISF emerging as the predominant agency. Endorsed by Xi, ISF has been established as a new strategic branch of the PLA.
The primary civilian spy agency of the CCP is the MSS, responsible for foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, human intelligence, and domestic security. The ministry functions as a Chinese government ministry, overseen by both the State Council—the regime’s top administrative authority—and the Politburo Standing Committee. Under Xi’s leadership, the MSS has taken on a more prominent role in public domestic counterespionage initiatives.
Under Xi, the Counterespionage Law was expanded last year. The updated law broadens the scope of violations, potentially encompassing routine business activities like market research, auditing, due diligence, business consulting, or inquiries on sensitive topics.
As security measures tighten, the MSS has emerged from secrecy to remind the public of constant surveillance and mutual vigilance. The ministry maintains a presence on social media platforms, with its posters and notices visible in public spaces across towns and cities nationwide.
Past anti-spy propaganda included a comic strip named “Dangerous Love,” portraying a Chinese girl unknowingly divulging state secrets to her foreign boyfriend, David. However, the MSS has intensified its efforts, now producing manga-style comics and an online series titled “Shenyin Special Investigation Squad,” based on purported real-life espionage scenarios.
Chinese tabloid Global Times published an article applauding an MSS-released video for “establishing a strong national security people’s defense line” through citizen reporting of actions jeopardizing national security. The article notes that in 2023, the ministry received numerous tips from citizens, leading to the prevention of espionage activities and resulting in arrests and prosecutions in some instances.
Around 85 citizens were honored with awards for their contributions to state security in recognition of their efforts.
According to the CCP, spies are said to be everywhere, infiltrating everything, and the nation can only survive if the entire citizenry works together against “foreign forces.” The Chinese regime, equipped with nuclear weapons and the world’s third most powerful military, aims to rival the United States as the global hegemon. This pervasive paranoia significantly influences government decision-making, highlighting its importance. Business individuals operating in China should be aware that the risk of being arrested and charged with espionage is at an unprecedented level.
*Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.*
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